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of costello the proud； of oona the daughter of dermott； and of the bitter tongue
costello had e up from the fields and lay upon the ground before the door of his square tower； resting his head upon his hands and looking at the sunset； and considering the chances of the weather。 though the customs of elizabeth and james； now going out of fashion in england； had begun to prevail among the gentry； he still wore the great cloak of the native irish； and the sensitive outlines of his face and the greatness of his indolent body had a mingling of pride and strength which belonged to a simpler age。 his eyes wandered from the sunset to where the long white road lost itself over the south？western horizon and to a horseman who toiled slowly up the hill。 a few more minutes and the horseman was near enough for his little and shapeless body； his long irish cloak； and the dilapidated bagpipes hanging from his shoulders； and the rough？haired garron under him； to be seen distinctly in the grey dusk。 so soon as he had e within earshot； he began crying： is it sleeping you are； tumaus costello； when better men break their hearts on the great white roads？
get up out of that； proud tumaus； for i have news！ get up out of that； you great omadhaun！ shake yourself out of the earth； you great weed of a man！
costello had risen to his feet； and as the piper came up to him seized him by the neck of his jacket； and lifting him out of his saddle threw him on to the ground。
let me alone； let me alone； said the other； but costello still shook him。
i have news from dermotts daughter； winny； the great fingers were loosened； and the piper rose gasping。
why did you not tell me； said costello； that you came from her？ you might have railed your fill。
i have e from her； but i will not speak unless i am paid for my shaking。
costello fumbled at the bag in which he carried his money； and it was some time before it would open； for the hand that had overe many men shook with fear and hope。 here is all the money in my bag； he said； dropping a stream of french and spanish money into the hand of the piper； who bit the coins before he would answer。
that is right； that is a fair price； but i will not speak till i have good protection； for if the dermotts lay their hands upon me in any boreen after sundown； or in cool？a？vin by day； i will be left to rot among the nettles of a ditch； or hung on the great sycamore； where they hung the horse？thieves last beltaine four years。 and while he spoke he tied the reins of his garron to a bar of rusty iron that was mortared into the wall。
i will make you my piper and my bodyservant； said costello； and no man dare lay hands upon the man； or the goat； or the horse； or the dog that is tumaus costellos。
and i will only tell my message； said the other； flinging the saddle on the ground； in the corner of the chimney with a noggin in my hand； and a jug of the brew of the little pot beside me； for though i am ragged and empty； my forbears were well clothed and full until their house was burnt and their cattle harried seven centuries ago by the dillons； whom i shall yet see on the hob of hell； and they screeching； and while he spoke the little eyes gleamed and the thin hands clenched。
costello led him into the great rush？strewn hall； where were none of the forts which had begun to grow mon among the gentry； but a feudal gauntness and bareness； and pointed to the bench in the great chimney； and when he had sat down； filled up a horn noggin and set it on the bench beside him； and set a great black jack of leather beside the noggin； and lit a torch that slanted out from a ring in the wall； his hands trembling the while； and then turned towards him and said： will dermotts daughter e to me； duallach； son of daly？
dermotts daughter will not e to you； for her father has set women to watch her； but she bid me tell you that this day sennight will be the eve of st。 john and the night of her betrothal to namara of the lake； and she would have you there that； when they bid her drink to him she loves best； as the way is； she may drink to you； tumaus costello； and let all know where her heart is； and how little of gladness is in her marriage； and i myself bid you go with good men about you； for i saw the horse？thieves with my own eyes； and they dancing the 〃blue pigeon〃 in the air。 and then he held the now empty noggin towards costello； his hand closing round it like the claw of a bird； and cried： fill my noggin again； for i would the day had e when all the water in the world is to shrink into a periwinkle？shell； that i might drink nothing but poteen。
finding that costello made no reply； but sat in a dream； he burst out： fill my noggin； i tell you； for no costello is so great in the world that he should not wait upon a daly； even though the daly travel the road with his pipes and the costello have a bare hill； an empty house； a horse； a herd of goats； and a handful of cows。 praise the dalys if you will； said costello as he filled the noggin； for you have brought me a kind word from my love。
for the next few days duallach went hither and thither trying to raise a bodyguard； and every man he met had some story of costello； how he killed the wrestler when but a boy by so straining at the belt that went about them both that he broke the big wrestlers back； how when somewhat older he dragged fierce horses through a ford in the unchion for a wager； how when he came to manhood he broke the steel horseshoe in mayo； how he drove many men before him through rushy meadow at drum？an？air because of a malevolent song they had about his poverty； and of many another deed of his strength and pride； but he could find none who would trust themselves with any so passionate and poor in a quarrel with careful and wealthy persons like dermott of the sheep and namara of the lake。
then costello went out himself； and after listening to many excuses and in many places； brought in a big half？witted fellow； who followed him like a dog； a farm？labourer who worshipped him for his strength； a fat farmer whose forefathers had served his family； and a couple of lads who looked after his goats and cows； and marshalled them before the fire in the empty hall。 they had brought with them their stout cudgels； and costello gave them an old pistol apiece； and kept them all night drinking spanish ale and shooting at a white turnip which he pinned against the wall with a skewer。 duallach of the pipes sat on the bench in the chimney playing the green bunch of rushes； the unchion stream； and the princes of breffeny on his old pipes； and railing now at the appearance of the shooters； now at their clumsy shooting； and now at costello because he had no better servants。 the labourer； the half？witted fellow； the farmer and the lads were all well accustomed to duallachs railing； for it was as inseparable from wake or wedding as the squealing of his pipes； but they wondered at the forbearance of costello； who seldom came either to wake or wedding； and if he had would scarce have been patient with a scolding piper。
on the next evening they set out for cool？a？vin； costello riding a tolerable horse and carrying a sword； the others upon rough？haired garrons； and with thei