On a signal from the two Druids, I give the nod to the lad in the lead. With a gentle tug on the rope, the massive bull follows out into the middle of the circle. At first, there is some reluctance to get any closer to those flames. A second lad gives him a tap on the haunch with his switch, and the creature ambles between the fires to be cleansed and purified for another year.

Hot on his heels comes a whol herd of cows. From the way the old fellow is strutting, I'm sure they're all HIS! A goodly number of horses, several flocks of sheep, a herd of goats, many pigs and some chickens carried in woven wicker cages make up the rest of the retinue. All procede between the fires in splendid order. No raging stampedes, no sudden frights. All is well as I follow the last of the creatures between the flames and iinto the darkness beyond.