"here's a coat o' clay ready made, and a fine one. See now, I'm a clever
fellow this time sure-_ly_, for I've found what I wanted without looking
for it! Wow, but it's a fine feeling to be so smart!"

And he sat and scratched his head, and thought about his own cleverness.

But all of a sudden, round the corner came the squire on horseback, full
gallop, as if the boggles were after him; but the fool had to jump,
even though the squire pulled his horse back on his haunches.

"What the dickens," said the squire, "do you mean by lying in the middle
of the road like that?"

"Well, master," said the fool, "I fell into the water and got wet, so I
lay down in the road to get dry; and I lay down a fool an' got up a wise
man."

"How's that?" said the squire.

So the fool told him about the wise woman and the coat o' clay.

"Ah, ah!" laughed the squire, "whoever heard of a wise man lying in the
middle of the highroad to be ridden over? Lad, take my word for it, you
are a bigger fool than ever," and he rode on laughing.

"Dang it!" said the fool, as he scratched his head. "I've not got the
right sort of coat yet, then." And he choked and spluttered in the dust
that the squire's horse had raised.

So on he went in a melancholy mood till he came to an inn, and the