Standish O'Grady; selected essays and passages

IRISH POLITICS AND POLITICAL HISTORY 187
quite understand it, nor did he himself, and the power
of the spells again settled upon his soul. But Blue Beard
heard it in his bed, and sat up quaking. There was no
more ;
but Blue Beard saw now very clearly that it would
be far safer to make an end of the huntsman altogether
at the very first opportunity, who, as a mere shrivelled
trunk, could be of no further service to him, and might
possibly some day set the hounds upon him again. So
the next time the hungry hounds lifted up their voices
Blue Beard intervened for the last time, and flung the poor
huntsman bodily to the hounds. Yet, so great was the
power of the spells, it is recorded that when Blue Beard
raised him in his arms for the purpose of flinging him
into the kennel, the huntsman kissed Blue Beard and
thanked him for all his goodness and kindness. And of
those who witnessed this extraordinary scene, it is.recorded
that the majority laughed, but that some few wept. This
passage, excerpted faithfully from the annals of the Hall,
is perfectly true, and quite historical. You land-owning
gentlemen of this country, you are the huntsman, and,
as sure as God lives, you will he flung to the hounds, unless,
at the eleventh hour, you can break the power of the spell.