42 REDPAD THE FOX 
little narrow-headed cur who slunk at Skehan's 
heel. 
' Shure he slapes in the cowhouse, and I lets 
him out in the mornin'. But he 'd never harm 
a sheep I rared him meself.' 
Paddy Magragh spat discreetly. ' I 'd have me 
cowhouse door mended, an' the window blocked/ 
said he. 
' Are ye sayin' that it was a dog all the while ? ' 
demanded Skehan irately. 
' I do not. Maybe 'twas a fox took one or two 
the first was a little small one, an' he sick-like. 
But this is a dog, shure enough.' And he looked 
again at Jack Skehan's sheep-dog, who was licking 
his paws thoughtfully. 
' Well, I '11 have the poison down again, an' 
that widout the paper. Shure there 's enough o' 
talkin'. If there 's another lamb worried on me, 
begob, but I '11 poison every fox in Knockdane,' 
grumbled Jack Skehan. 
Paddy Magragh said nothing, for he was crafty, 
and the Knockdane foxes were near to his heart and 
his pocket, but that night, after the bait had been 
laid, he went to the field, and, taking the carcase 
of the dead lamb, he put in enough strychnine to 
poison a dozen dogs or foxes either, and left it by 
the gate. 
