A Larrikin, or ne'er-do-well, goes to get some food. He notices a horse's tail in the kitchen, realizes that he is eating horseflesh, and leaves. The Cook realizes he hasn't paid for his meal and chases after him. The Larrikin insists he has paid already. People ask what the reason for their quarrel is, an the Larrikin says that there is a cause and the cause has a tail. The Cook realizes what this means and says that the Larrikin has paid for his meal.