Now, I must pay the price of my avarice. I watch as the others attempt this feat; each with varying degrees of success. I study the styles, the run-ups, the launches, the flights and the landings. I watch with growing alarm as each of the leapers is eventually doused with a pannikin of water, usually after the final jump. I am thinking I have this all figured out.

Carefully, I remove and fold my fine Bard's cloak of many colors, and lay it upon the stump of one of the shorter stones. I tuck the loose ends of my tunic into my trews and take a position at one edge of the circle. With a mighty grunt, I launch myself into the best run I can muster. At one step from the mighty blaze, I flex my legs and then spring into the air. As I pass through the flames, I keep arms and legs tucked close until I am clear on the other side. I land with a resounding thump of my feet on the hard-packed earth with nothing worse than a singed whisker or two.

My second try is no worse than the first. Mayhap even a bit better, as I seem to get a little more elevation in my leap. Those still standing about the circle laugh and applaud my effort. Their approval proves to be my own undoing. That and my o'erweening pride! One of the revelers passes me a LARGE cup of the uisge beatha, which I proceed to drink down in a very few swallows. Returning to my starting point, I begin my third and final leap. Everything seems to be going well until, in the midst of the fire, I exhale. Needless to say, the vapors from the water of life are instantly ignited and I am engulfed in a ball of flame. Even after I leave the confines of the bonfire, itself, the portable inferno remains with me. The quick thinking of one of the revelers manages to save my skin, and a small shred of my dignity. With no hesitation he shoves me, head-first, into the water barrel. There is a great puff of steam and I emerge coughing and spluttering! the crowd seems to enjoy this preformance even more than my first two tries. With a quick bow to my audience, I grab my cloak and beat a hasty retreat.