Make
you him pay the cost." He raised his voice so high that the congregation
could not discern the meaning thereof, and it shouted as one person:
"Wo, now, boy Sheremiah! What is the matter, say you?"
The anger which Aben nourished against Dan waxed hot. Rain came, and it
did not abate, and the man plotted mischief to his brother's damage. In
heavy darkness he cut the halters which held Dan's cows and horses to
their stalls and drove the animals into the road. He also poisoned pond
Penlan, and a sheep died before it could be killed and eaten.
Dan wept very sore. "Take you the old water," he said. "Fat is my
sorrow."
"Not religious you are," Aben censured him. "All the water is mine."
"Useful he is to me," Dan replied. "Like would I that he turns my wheel
as he goes to you."
"Clap your mouth," answered Aben.
"Not as much as will go through the leg of a smoking pipe shall you
have."
In Sion Aben told the Big Man of all the benefits which he had conferred
upon Dan.
Men and women encouraged his fury; some said this: "An old paddy is Dan
to rob your water. Ach y fi"; and some said this: "A dirty ass is the
mule.
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