38 REDPAD THE FOX 
two lambs were missing. He called a conclave of 
neighbours, and they sat in judgment upon Redpad's 
real and supposed delinquencies. Jack Skehan, 
who was very wrathful, purposed to put a notice 
to ' foxhunters and others ' in the local press, 
and resort to drastic measures by means of strych- 
nine ; but the rest of the council shook their 
heads, for they had no wish to banish the hounds 
from Knockdane. Ultimately they all went down 
to consult Paddy Magragh, whose reputation for 
wisdom was deservedly great where animals were 
concerned. Paddy was smoking in his cabin, and 
after he had heard all that they had to say, he 
said : ' 'Twas a dog, not a fox, took the lamb 
lasht night, I 'm thinking.' And this opinion he 
held to in spite of all arguments against it. 
Nothing occurred that night, and the following 
day Paddy Magragh went alone to the field on 
the hill, and searched it thoroughly. He came 
upon the carcase of the lamb in the gorse, and 
he grinned, for he knew the ways of the Fur Folk, 
and their law, better than most of the men round 
Knockdane. The next day, however, there was 
great consternation. Jack Skehan's flock was 
untouched, but Dinny Purcell had left his ewes 
in a field adjoining the wood, and a young lamb 
lay torn and draggled upon the grass. The remains 
