THE HERON 
visiting the house one day noticed that the 
window-frame was pitted with holes, and won- 
dered why. The Ballongarry Corr iasc could 
have told him how, as he stood frog-catching 
in the tarn, a gunshot pierced the peace of the 
night, and drove him away in fear ; but only 
Andy himself knew what evil thing leered at 
him through the pane. 
Later, on stormy nights, the devils came down 
the chimney, and warmed themselves at the fire, 
regardless of the cross. They talked to one 
another about this little house and how it and 
all who lived in it belonged to them, and how 
they hated the great house at Ballongarry, and 
that another devil called Cornelius Geoghegan 
lived there. One night, in a cold sweat, Andy 
shot at one of these knowing devils, and when 
the smoke had cleared away it was gone, and 
he was glad. But in the morning he found 
that the evil things had broken the leg of one 
of his goats. Andy was very much grieved and 
cursed the devils as he bound up the wound, 
and gave the poor animal a mash, for he loved 
all beasts and birds. 
There was only one thing which could keep 
away the devils, and that was the whisky in 
the cupboard. Andy had never drunk much 
before except on fair days and such like, when 
he had sometimes " dhrink taken." He drank 
233 
