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MARTIN DOUL ＇with a begging voice。＇ Leave a bit of silver
for blind Martin； your honour。 Leave a bit of silver； or a penny
copper itself； and we'll be praying the Lord to bless you and you
going the way。
TIMMY ＇stopping before them。＇ And you letting on a while
back you knew my step！ ＇He sits down。＇
MARTIN ＇with his natural voice。＇ I know it when Molly
Byrne's walking in front； or when she's two perches； maybe；
lagging behind； but it's few times I've heard you walking up the
like of that； as if you'd met a thing wasn't right and you coming
on the road。
TIMMY ＇hot and breathless； wiping his face。＇ You've good
ears； God bless you； if you're a liar itself； for I'm after
walking up in great haste from hearing wonders in the fair。
MARTIN DOUL ＇rather contemptuously。＇ You're always hearing
queer wonderful things； and the lot of them nothing at all； but
I'm thinking； this time； it's a strange thing surely you'd be
walking up before the turn of day； and not waiting below to look
on them lepping； or dancing； or playing shows on the green of
Clash。
TIMMY ＇huffed。＇ I was coming to tell you it's in this place
there'd be a bigger wonder done in a short while （Martin Doul
stops working） than was ever done on the green of Clash； or the
width of Leinster itself； but you're thinking； maybe； you're too
cute a little fellow to be minding me at all。
MARTIN DOUL ＇amused； but incredulous。＇ There'll be wonders
in this place； is it？
TIMMY。 Here at the crossing of the roads。
MARTIN DOUL。 I never heard tell of anything to happen in this
place since the night they killed the old fellow going home with
his gold； the Lord have mercy on him； and threw down his corpse
into the bog。 Let them not be doing the like of that this night；
for it's ourselves have a right to the crossing roads； and we
don't want any of your bad tricks； or your wonders either； for
it's wonder enough we are ourselves。
TIMMY。 If I'd a mind I'd be telling you of a real wonder this
day； and the way you'll be having a great joy； maybe； you're not
thinking on at all。
MARTIN DOUL ＇interested。＇ Are they putting up a still
behind in the rocks？ It'd be a grand thing if I'd sup handy the
way I wouldn't be destroying myself groping up across the bogs in
the rain falling。
TIMMY ＇still moodily。＇ It's not a still they're bringing；
or the like of it either。
MARY DOUL ＇persuasively； to Timmy。＇ Maybe they're hanging a
thief； above at the bit of a tree。 I'm told it's a great sight
to see a man hanging by his neck； but what joy would that be to
ourselves； and we not seeing it at all？
TIMMY ＇more pleasantly。＇ They're hanging no one this day；
Mary Doul； and yet； with the help of God； you'll see a power
hanged before you die。
MARY DOUL。 Well you've queer hum…bugging talk。 。 。 。 What way
would I see a power hanged； and I a dark woman since the seventh
year of my age？
TIMMY。 Did ever you hear tell of a place across a bit of the
sea； where there is an island； and the grave of the four
beautiful saints？
MARY DOUL。 I've heard people have walked round from the west and
they speaking of that。
TIMMY ＇impressively。＇ There's a green ferny well； I'm told；
behind of that place； and if you put a drop of the water out of
it on the eyes of a blind man； you'll make him see as well as any
person is walking the world。
MARTIN DOUL ＇with excitement。＇ Is that the truth； Timmy？
I'm thinking you're telling a lie。
TIMMY ＇gruffly。＇ That's the truth； Martin Doul； and you may
believe it now； for you're after believing a power of things
weren't as likely at all。
MARY DOUL。 Maybe we could send us a young lad to bring us the
water。 I could wash a naggin bottle in the morning； and I'm
thinking Patch Ruadh would go for it； if we gave him a good
drink； and the bit of money we have hid in the thatch。
TIMMY。 It'd be no good to be sending a sinful man the like of
ourselves； for I'm told the holiness of the water does be getting
soiled with the villainy of your heart； the time you'd be
carrying it； and you looking round on the girls； maybe； or
drinking a small sup at a still。
MARTIN DOUL ＇with disappointment。＇ It'd be a long terrible
way to be walking ourselves； and I'm thinking that's a wonder
will bring small joy to us at all。
TIMMY ＇turning on him impatiently。＇ What is it you want
with your walking？ It's as deaf as blind you're growing if
you're not after hearing me say it's in this place the wonder
would be done。
MARTIN DOUL ＇with a flash of anger。＇ If it is can't you
open the big slobbering mouth you have and say what way it'll be
done； and not be making blather till the fall of night。
TIMMY ＇jumping up。＇ I'll be going on now （Mary Doul rises）；
and not wasting time talking civil talk with the like of you。
MARY DOUL ＇standing up； disguising her impatience。＇ Let you
come here to me； Timmy； and not be minding him at all。 （Timmy
stops； and she gropes up to him and takes him by the coat）。＇
You're not huffy with myself； and let you tell me the whole story
and don't be fooling me more。 。 。 。 Is it yourself has brought
us the water？
TIMMY。 It is not； surely。
MARY DOUL。 Then tell us your wonder； Timmy。 。 。 。 What
person'll bring it at all？
TIMMY ＇relenting。＇ It's a fine holy man will bring it； a
saint of the Almighty God。
MARY DOUL ＇overawed。＇ A saint is it？
TIMMY。 Ay； a fine saint； who's going round through the churches
of Ireland； with a long cloak on him； and naked feet； for he's
brought a sup of the water slung at his side； and； with the like
of him； any little drop is enough to cure the dying； or to make
the blind see as clear as the gray hawks do be high up； on a
still day； sailing the sky。
MARTIN DOUL ＇feeling for his stick。＇ What place is he；
Timmy？ I'll be walking to him now。
TIMMY。 Let you stay quiet； Martin。 He's straying around saying
prayers at the churches and high crosses； between this place and
the hills； and he with a great crowd go… ing behind for it's
fine prayers he does be saying； and fasting with it； till he's as
thin as one of the empty rushes you have there on your knee； then
he'll be coming after to this place to cure the two of you
we're after telling him the way you are and to say his prayers
in the church。
MARTIN DOUL ＇turning suddenly to Mary Doul。＇ And we'll be
seeing ourselves this day。 Oh； glory be to God； is it true
surely？
MARY DOUL ＇very pleased； to Timmy。＇ Maybe I'd have time to
walk down and get the big shawl I have below； for I do look my
best； I've heard them say； when I'm dressed up with that thing on
my head。
TIMMY。 You'd have time surely。
MARTIN DOUL ＇listening。＇ Whisht now。 。 。 。 I hear people
again coming by the stream。
TIMMY ＇looking out left； puzzled。＇ It's the young girls I
left walking after