t there's no
stint of welcome in it. You would have a good time with us travelling on
moonlit nights and seeing strange things, for we often go to visit the
Shee of the Hills and they come to see us; there is always something
to talk about, and we have dances in the caves and on the tops of the
hills. Don't be imagining now that we have a poor life for there is fun
and plenty with us and the Brugh of Angus Mac an Og is hard to be got
at."

"I would like to dance, indeed," returned the Philosopher, "for I do
believe that dancing is the first and last duty of man. If we cannot be
gay what can we be? Life is not any use at all unless we find a laugh
here and there--but this time, decent men of the Gort, I cannot go with
you, for it is laid on me to give myself up to the police."

"You would not do that," exclaimed the Thin Woman pitifully: "You
wouldn't think of doing that now!"

"An innocent man," said he, "cannot be oppressed, for he is fortified
by his mind and his heart cheers him. It is only on a guilty person that
the rigour of punishment can fall, for he punishes himself. This is what
I think, that a man should always obey the law with his body and always
disobey it with his mind. I have been arrested, the men of the law had
me in their hands, and I will have to go back to them so that they may
do whatever they have to do."

The Philosopher resumed his pipe, and although the others reasoned with
him for a long time they could not by any means remove him from his
purpose. So, when the pale glimmer of dawn had stolen over the sky,
they arose and went downwards to the cross-roads and so to the Police
Station.

Outside the village the Leprecauns bade him farewell and the Thin Woman
also took her leave of him, saying she would visit Angus Og and implore
his assistance on behalf of her husband, and then the Leprecauns and the
Thin Woman returned again the way they came, and the Philosopher walked
on to the barracks.

CHAPTER XVI

WHEN he knocked at the barracks door it was opened by a man with
tousled, red hair, who looked as though he had just awakened from sleep.

"What do you want at this hour of the night?" said he.

"I want to give myself up," said the Philosopher. The policeman looked
at him "A man as old as you are," said he, "oughtn't to be a fool. Go
home now, I advise you, and don't say a word to any one whether you did
it or not. Tell me this now, was it found out, or are you only making a
clean