Longhewaited,butwaitashemight,thebasketnevercameback,forintheirjoyatbeingfreetheknight\'sdaughtershadforgottenallaboutIan,andhadsetsailintheshipthathadbroughthimandhisbrotherstothelandofGrianaig。
Atlasthebegantounderstandwhathadhappenedtohim,andwhilehewastakingcounselwithhimselfwhathadbestbedone,theravencametohim。
\'Youdidnotheedmywords,\'hesaidgravely。
\'No,Ididnot,andthereforeamIhere,\'answeredIan,bowinghishead。
\'Thepastcannotbeundone,\'wentontheraven。\'Hethatwillnottakecounselwilltakecombat。Thisnight,youwillsleepinthegiant\'scastle。Andnowyoushallgivemeapieceoftobacco。\'
\'Iwill。But,Iprayyou,stayinthecastlewithme。\'
\'ThatImaynotdo,butonthemorrowIwillcome。\'
Andonthemorrowhedid,andhebadeIangotothegiant\'sstablewherestoodahorsetowhomitmatterednothingifshejourneyedoverlandorsea。
\'Butbecareful,\'headded,\'howyouenterthestable,forthedoorswingswithoutceasingtoandfro,andifittouchesyou,itwillcauseyoutocryout。Iwillgofirstandshowyoutheway。\'
\'Go,\'saidIan。Andtheravengaveabobandahop,andthoughthewasquitesafe,butthedoorslammedonafeatherofhistail,andhescreamedloudly。
ThenIantookarunbackwards,andarunforwards,andmadeaspring;
butthedoorcaughtoneofhisfeet,andhefellfaintingonthestablefloor。Quicklytheravenpouncedonhim,andpickedhimupinhisbeakandclaws,andcarriedhimbacktothecastle,wherehelaidointmentsonhisfoottillitwasaswellaseveritwas。
\'Nowcomeouttowalk,\'saidtheraven,\'buttakeheedthatyouwondernotataughtyoumaybehold;neithershallyoutouchanything。And,first,givemeapieceoftobacco。\'
ManystrangethingsdidIanbeholdinthatisland,morethanhehadthoughtfor。Inaglenlaythreeheroesstretchedontheirbacks,donetodeathbythreespearsthatstillstuckintheirbreasts。Buthekepthiscounselandspakenothing,onlyhepulledoutthespears,andthemensatupandsaid:
\'YouareIanthesoldier\'sson,andaspellislaiduponyoutotravelinourcompany,tothecaveoftheblackfisherman。\'
Sotogethertheywenttilltheyreachedthecave,andoneofthemenentered,toseewhatshouldbefoundthere。Andhebeheldahag,horribletolookupon,seatedonarock,andbeforehecouldspeak,shestruckhimwithherclub,andchangedhimintoastone;andinlikemannershedealtwiththeotherthree。AtthelastIanentered。
\'Thesemenareunderspells,\'saidthewitch,\'andalivetheycanneverbetillyouhaveanointedthemwiththewaterwhichyoumustfetchfromtheislandofBigWomen。Seethatyoudonottarry。\'AndIanturnedawaywithasinkingheart,forhewouldfainhavefollowedtheyoungestdaughteroftheknightofGrianaig。
\'Youdidnotobeymycounsel,\'saidtheraven,hoppingtowardshim,\'andsotroublehascomeuponyou。Butsleepnow,andto—morrowyoushallmountthehorsewhichisinthegiant\'sstable,thatcangallopoverseaandland。WhenyoureachtheislandofBigWomen,sixteenboyswillcometomeetyou,andwillofferthehorsefood,andwishtotakehersaddleandbridlefromher。Butseethattheytouchhernot,andgiveherfoodyourself,andyourselfleadherintothestable,andshutthedoor。Andbesurethatforeveryturnofthelockgivenbythesixteenstableladsyougiveone。Andnowyoushallbreakmeoffapieceoftobacco。\'
ThenextmorningIanarose,andledthehorsefromthestable,withoutthedoorhurtinghim,andherodeacrosstheseatotheislandoftheBigWomen,wherethesixteenstableladsmethim,andeachoneofferedtotakehishorse,andtofeedher,andtoputherintothestable。
ButIanonlyanswered:
\'Imyselfwillputherinandwillseetoher。\'Andthushedid。Andwhilehewasrubbinghersidesthehorsesaidtohim:
\'Everykindofdrinkwilltheyofferyou,butseeyoutakenone,savewheyandwateronly。\'Andsoitfellout;andwhenthesixteenstable—boyssawthathewoulddrinknothing,theydrankitallthemselves,andonebyonelaystretchedaroundtheboard。
ThenIanfeltpleasedinhisheartthathehadwithstoodtheirfairwords,andheforgotthecounselthatthehorsehadlikewisegivenhimsaying:
\'Bewarelestyoufallasleep,andletslipthechanceofgettinghomeagain\';forwhiletheladsweresleepingsweetmusicreachedhisears,andhesleptalso。
Whenthiscametopassthesteedbrokethroughthestabledoor,andkickedhimandwokehimroughly。
\'Youdidnotheedmycounsel,\'saidshe;\'andwhoknowsifitisnottoolatetowinoverthesea？Butfirsttakethatswordwhichhangsonthewall,andcutofftheheadsofthesixteengrooms。\'
Filledwithshameatbeingoncemoreprovedheedless,Ianaroseanddidasthehorsebadehim。Thenherantothewellandpouredsomeofthewaterintoaleatherbottle,andjumpingonthehorse\'sbackrodeovertheseatotheislandwheretheravenwaswaitingforhim。
\'Leadthehorseintothestable,\'saidtheraven,\'andliedownyourselftosleep,forto—morrowyoumustmaketheheroestoliveagain,andmustslaythehag。Andhaveacarenottobesofoolishto—morrowasyouwereto—day。\'
\'Staywithmeforcompany,\'beggedIan;buttheravenshookhishead,andflewaway。
InthemorningIanawoke,andhastenedtothecavewheretheoldhagwassitting,andhestruckherdeadasshewas,beforeshecouldcastspellsonhim。Nexthesprinkledthewaterovertheheroes,whocametolifeagain,andtogethertheyalljourneyedtotheothersideoftheisland,andtheretheravenmetthem。
\'Atlastyouhavefollowedthecounselthatwasgivenyou,\'saidtheraven;\'andnow,havinglearnedwisdom,youmaygohomeagaintoGrianaig。Thereyouwillfindthattheknight\'stwoeldestdaughtersaretobeweddedthisdaytoyourtwobrothers,andtheyoungesttothechiefofthemenattherock。Buthergoldcapyoushallgivetomeand,ifyouwantit,youhaveonlytothinkofmeandIwillbringittoyou。AndonemorewarningIgiveyou。Ifanyoneasksyouwhenceyoucame,answerthatyouhavecomefrombehindyou;andifanyoneasksyouwhitheryouaregoing,saythatyouaregoingbeforeyou。\'
SoIanmountedthehorseandsetherfacetotheseaandherbacktotheshore,andshewasoff,awayandawaytillshereachedthechurchofGrianaig,andthere,inafieldofgrass,besideawellofwater,heleapeddownfromhissaddle。
\'Now,\'thehorsesaidtohim,\'drawyourswordandcutoffmyhead。\'
ButIananswered:
\'PoorthankswouldthatbeforallthehelpIhavehadfromyou。\'
\'ItistheonlywaythatIcanfreemyselffromthespellsthatwerelaidbythegiantsonmeandtheraven;forIwasagirlandhewasayouthwooingme！Sohavenofears,butdoasIhavesaid。\'
ThenIandrewhisswordasshebadehim,andcutoffherhead,andwentonhiswaywithoutlookingbackwards。Ashewalkedhesawawomanstandingatherhousedoor。Sheaskedhimwhencehehadcome,andheansweredastheravenhadtoldhim,thathecamefrombehind。Nextsheinquiredwhitherhewasgoing,andthistimehemadereplythathewasgoingonbeforehim,butthathewasthirstyandwouldlikeadrink。
\'Youareanimpudentfellow,\'saidthewoman;\'butyoushallhaveadrink。\'Andshegavehimsomemilk,whichwasallshehadtillherhusbandcamehome。
\'Whereisyourhusband？\'askedIan,andthewomanansweredhim:
\'Heisattheknight\'scastletryingtofashiongoldandsilverintoacapfortheyoungestdaughter,likeuntothecapsthathersisterswear,suchasarenottobefoundinallthisland。But,see,heisreturning;andnowweshallhearhowhehassped。\'
Atthatthemanenteredthegate,andbeholdingastrangeyouth,hesaidtohim:\'Whatisyourtrade,boy？\'
\'Iamasmith,\'repliedIan。Andthemananswered:
\'Goodluckhasbefallenme,then,foryoucanhelpmetomakeacapfortheknight\'sdaughter。\'
\'Youcannotmakethatcap,andyouknowit,\'saidIan。
\'Well,Imusttry,\'repliedtheman,\'orIshallbehangedonatree;
soitwereagooddeedtohelpme。\'
\'IwillhelpyouifIcan,\'saidIan;\'butkeepthegoldandsilverforyourself,andlockmeintothesmithyto—night,andIwillworkmyspells。\'Sotheman,wonderingtohimself,lockedhimin。
AssoonasthekeywasturnedinthelockIanwishedfortheraven,andtheravencametohim,carryingthecapinhismouth。
\'Nowtakemyheadoff,\'saidtheraven。ButIananswered:
\'Poorthankswerethatforallthehelpyouhavegivenme。\'
\'Itistheonlythanksyoucangiveme,\'saidtheraven,\'forIwasayouthlikeyourselfbeforespellswerelaidonme。\'
ThenIandrewhisswordandcutofftheheadoftheraven,andshuthiseyessothathemightseenothing。Afterthathelaydownandslepttillmorningdawned,andthemancameandunlockedthedoorandshookthesleeper。
\'Hereisthecap,\'saidIandrowsily,drawingitfromunderhispillow。
Andhefellasleepagaindirectly。
Thesunwashighintheheavenswhenhewokeagain,andthistimehebeheldatall,brown—hairedyouthstandingbyhim。
\'Iamtheraven,\'saidtheyouth,\'andthespellsarebroken。Butnowgetupandcomewithme。\'
ThentheytwowenttogethertotheplacewhereIanhadleftthedeadhorse;butnohorsewastherenow,onlyabeautifulmaiden。
\'Iamthehorse,\'shesaid,\'andthespellsarebroken\';andsheandtheyouthwentawaytogether。
Inthemeantimethesmithhadcarriedthecaptothecastle,andbadeaservantbelongingtotheknight\'syoungestdaughterbearittohermistress。Butwhenthegirl\'seyesfellonit,shecriedout:
\'Hespeaksfalse;andifhedoesnotbringmethemanwhoreallymadethecapIwillhanghimonthetreebesidemywindow。\'
Theservantwasfilledwithfearatherwords,andhastenedandtoldthesmith,whoranasfastashecouldtoseekforIan。Andwhenhefoundhimandbroughthimintothecastle,thegirlwasfirststruckdumbwithjoy;thenshedeclaredthatshewouldmarrynobodyelse。AtthissomeonefetchedtohertheknightofGrianaig,andwhenIanhadtoldhistale,hevowedthatthemaidenwasright,andthathiselderdaughtersshouldneverwedwithmenwhohadnotonlytakenglorytothemselveswhichdidnotbelongtothem,buthadlefttherealdoerofthedeedstohisfate。
Andtheweddingguestssaidthattheknighthadspokenwell;andthetwoelderbrotherswerefaintoleavethecountry,fornoonewouldconversewiththem。
[FromTalesoftheWestHighlands。]
TheFoxandtheWolfAtthefootofsomehighmountainstherewas,onceuponatime,asmallvillage,andalittlewayofftworoadsmet,oneofthemgoingtotheeastandtheothertothewest。Thevillagerswerequiet,hard—workingfolk,whotoiledinthefieldsallday,andintheeveningsetoutforhomewhenthebellbegantoringinthelittlechurch。Inthesummermorningstheyledouttheirflockstopasture,andwerehappyandcontentedfromsunrisetosunset。
Onesummernight,whenaroundfullmoonshonedownuponthewhiteroad,agreatwolfcametrottingroundthecorner。
\'IpositivelymustgetagoodmealbeforeIgobacktomyden,\'hesaidtohimself;\'itisnearlyaweeksinceIhavetastedanythingbutscraps,thoughperhapsnoonewouldthinkittolookatmyfigure！Ofcoursethereareplentyofrabbitsandharesinthemountains;butindeedoneneedstobeagreyhoundtocatchthem,andIamnotsoyoungasIwas！IfIcouldonlydineoffthatfoxIsawafortnightago,curledupintoadelicioushairyball,Ishouldasknothingbetter;I
wouldhaveeatenherthen,butunluckilyherhusbandwaslyingbesideher,andoneknowsthatfoxes,greatandsmall,runlikethewind。
Reallyitseemsasiftherewasnotalivingcreatureleftformetopreyuponbutawolf,and,astheproverbsays:\"Onewolfdoesnotbiteanother。\"However,letusseewhatthisvillagecanproduce。Iamashungryasaschoolmaster。\'
Now,whilethesethoughtswererunningthroughthemindofthewolf,theveryfoxhehadbeenthinkingofwasgallopingalongtheotherroad。
\'ThewholeofthisdayIhavelistenedtothosevillagehenscluckingtillIcouldbearitnolonger,\'murmuredsheassheboundedalong,hardlyseemingtotouchtheground。\'Whenyouarefondoffowlsandeggsitisthesweetestofallmusic。AssureasthereisasuninheavenIwillhavesomeofthemthisnight,forIhavegrownsothinthatmyverybonesrattle,andmypoorbabiesarecryingforfood。\'
Andasshespokeshereachedalittleplotofgrass,wherethetworoadsjoined,andflungherselfunderatreetotakealittlerest,andtosettleherplans。Atthismomentthewolfcameup。
Atthesightofthefoxlyingwithinhisgrasphismouthbegantowater,buthisjoywassomewhatcheckedwhenhenoticedhowthinshewas。Thefox\'squickearsheardthesoundofhispaws,thoughtheyweresoftasvelvet,andturningherheadshesaidpolitely:
\'Isthatyou,neighbour？Whatastrangeplacetomeetin！Ihopeyouarequitewell？\'
\'Quitewellasregardsmyhealth,\'answeredthewolf,whoseeyeglistenedgreedily,\'atleast,aswellasonecanbewhenoneisveryhungry。Butwhatisthematterwithyou？Afortnightagoyouwereasplumpasheartcouldwish！\'
\'Ihavebeenill——veryill,\'repliedthefox,\'andwhatyousayisquitetrue。Awormisfatincomparisonwithme。\'
\'Heis。Still,youaregoodenoughforme;for\"tothehungrynobreadishard。\"\'
\'Oh,youarealwaysjoking！I\'msureyouarenothalfashungryasI！\'
\'Thatweshallsoonsee,\'criedthewolf,openinghishugemouthandcrouchingforaspring。
\'Whatareyoudoing？\'exclaimedthefox,steppingbackwards。
\'WhatamIdoing？WhatIamgoingtodoistomakemysupperoffyou,inlesstimethanacocktakestocrow。\'
\'Well,Isupposeyoumusthaveyourjoke,\'answeredthefoxlightly,butneverremovinghereyefromthewolf,whorepliedwithasnarlwhichshowedallhisteeth:
\'Idon\'twanttojoke,buttoeat！\'
\'Butsurelyapersonofyourtalentsmustperceivethatyoumighteatmetotheverylastmorselandneverknowthatyouhadswallowedanythingatall！\'
\'Inthisworldthecleverestpeoplearealwaysthehungriest,\'repliedthewolf。
\'Ah！howtruethatis;but——\'
\'Ican\'tstoptolistentoyour\"buts\"and\"yets,\"\'brokeinthewolfrudely;\'letusgettothepoint,andthepointisthatIwanttoeatyouandnottalktoyou。\'
\'Haveyounopityforapoormother？\'askedthefox,puttinghertailtohereyes,butpeepingslilyoutofthemallthesame。
\'Iamdyingofhunger,\'answeredthewolf,doggedly;\'andyouknow,\'headdedwithagrin,\'thatcharitybeginsathome。\'
\'Quiteso,\'repliedthefox;\'itwouldbeunreasonableofmetoobjecttoyoursatisfyingyourappetiteatmyexpense。Butifthefoxresignsherselftothesacrifice,themotheroffersyouonelastrequest。\'
\'Thenbequickanddon\'twastemytime,forIcan\'twaitmuchlonger。
Whatisityouwant？\'
\'Youmustknow,\'saidthefox,\'thatinthisvillagethereisarichmanwhomakesinthesummerenoughcheesestolasthimforthewholeyear,andkeepstheminanoldwell,nowdry,inhiscourtyard。Bythewellhangtwobucketsonapolethatwereused,informerdays,todrawupwater。FormanynightsIhavecreptdowntothepalace,andhaveloweredmyselfinthebucket,bringinghomewithmeenoughcheesetofeedthechildren。AllIbegofyouistocomewithme,and,insteadofhuntingchickensandsuchthings,IwillmakeagoodmealoffcheesebeforeIdie。\'
\'Butthecheesesmaybeallfinishedbynow？\'
\'Ifyouwereonlytoseethequantitiesofthem！\'laughedthefox。
\'Andeveniftheywerefinished,therewouldalwaysbeMEtoeat。\'
\'Well,Iwillcome。Leadtheway,butIwarnyouthatifyoutrytoescapeorplayanytricksyouarereckoningwithoutyourhost——thatistosay,withoutmylegs,whichareaslongasyours！\'
Allwassilentinthevillage,andnotalightwastobeseenbutthatofthemoon,whichshonebrightandclearinthesky。Thewolfandthefoxcreptsoftlyalong,whensuddenlytheystoppedandlookedateachother;asavourysmelloffryingbaconreachedtheirnoses,andreachedthenosesofthesleepingdogs,whobegantobarkgreedily。
\'Isitsafetogoon,thinkyou？\'askedthewolfinawhisper。Andthefoxshookherhead。
\'Notwhilethedogsarebarking,\'saidshe;\'someonemightcomeouttoseeifanythingwasthematter。\'Andshesignedtothewolftocurlhimselfupintheshadowbesideher。
Inabouthalfanhourthedogsgrewtiredofbarking,orperhapsthebaconwaseatenupandtherewasnosmelltoexcitethem。Thenthewolfandthefoxjumpedup,andhastenedtothefootofthewall。
\'Iamlighterthanheis,\'thoughtthefoxtoherself,\'andperhapsifImakehasteIcangetastart,andjumpoverthewallontheothersidebeforehemanagestospringoverthisone。\'Andshequickenedherpace。Butifthewolfcouldnotrunhecouldjump,andwithoneboundhewasbesidehiscompanion。
\'Whatwereyougoingtodo,comrade？\'
\'Oh,nothing,\'repliedthefox,muchvexedatthefailureofherplan。
\'IthinkifIweretotakeabitoutofyourhaunchyouwouldjumpbetter,\'saidthewolf,givingasnapatherashespoke。Thefoxdrewbackuneasily。
\'Becareful,orIshallscream,\'shesnarled。Andthewolf,understandingallthatmighthappenifthefoxcarriedoutherthreat,gaveasignaltohiscompaniontoleaponthewall,whereheimmediatelyfollowedher。
Onceonthetoptheycroucheddownandlookedaboutthem。Notacreaturewastobeseeninthecourtyard,andinthefurthestcornerfromthehousestoodthewell,withitstwobucketssuspendedfromapole,justasthefoxhaddescribedit。Thetwothievesdraggedthemselvesnoiselesslyalongthewalltilltheywereoppositethewell,andbystretchingoutherneckasfarasitwouldgothefoxwasabletomakeoutthattherewasonlyverylittlewaterinthebottom,butjustenoughtoreflectthemoon,big,androundandyellow。
\'Howlucky！\'criedshetothewolf。\'Thereisahugecheeseaboutthesizeofamillwheel。Look！look！didyoueverseeanythingsobeautiful！\'
\'Never！\'answeredthewolf,peeringoverinhisturn,hiseyesglisteninggreedily,forheimaginedthatthemoon\'sreflectioninthewaterwasreallyacheese。
\'Andnow,unbeliever,whathaveyoutosay？\'andthefoxlaughedgently。
\'Thatyouareawoman——Imeanafox——ofyourword,\'repliedthewolf。
\'Well,then,godowninthatbucketandeatyourfill,\'saidthefox。
\'Oh,isthatyourgame？\'askedthewolf,withagrin。\'No！no！Thepersonwhogoesdowninthebucketwillbeyou！Andifyoudon\'tgodownyourheadwillgowithoutyou！\'
\'OfcourseIwillgodown,withthegreatestpleasure,\'answeredthefox,whohadexpectedthewolf\'sreply。
\'Andbesureyoudon\'teatallthecheese,oritwillbetheworseforyou,\'continuedthewolf。Butthefoxlookedupathimwithtearsinhereyes。
\'Farewell,suspiciousone！\'shesaidsadly。Andclimbedintothebucket。
Inaninstantshehadreachedthebottomofthewell,andfoundthatthewaterwasnotdeepenoughtocoverherlegs。
\'Why,itislargerandricherthanIthought,\'criedshe,turningtowardsthewolf,whowasleaningoverthewallofthewell。
\'Thenbequickandbringitup,\'commandedthewolf。
\'HowcanI,whenitweighsmorethanIdo？\'askedthefox。
\'Ifitissoheavybringitintwobits,ofcourse,\'saidhe。
\'ButIhavenoknife,\'answeredthefox。\'Youwillhavetocomedownyourself,andwewillcarryitupbetweenus。\'
\'AndhowamItocomedown？\'inquiredthewolf。
\'Oh,youarereallyverystupid！Getintotheotherbucketthatisnearlyoveryourhead。\'
Thewolflookedup,andsawthebuckethangingthere,andwithsomedifficultyheclimbedintoit。Asheweighedatleastfourtimesasmuchasthefoxthebucketwentdownwithajerk,andtheotherbucket,inwhichthefoxwasseated,cametothesurface。
Assoonasheunderstoodwhatwashappening,thewolfbegantospeaklikeanangrywolf,butwasalittlecomfortedwhenherememberedthatthecheesestillremainedtohim。
\'Butwhereisthecheese？\'heaskedofthefox,whoinherturnwasleaningovertheparapetwatchinghisproceedingswithasmile。
\'Thecheese？\'answeredthefox;\'whyIamtakingithometomybabies,whoaretooyoungtogetfoodforthemselves。\'
\'Ah,traitor！\'criedthewolf,howlingwithrage。Butthefoxwasnottheretohearthisinsult,forshehadgoneofftoaneighbouringfowl—house,whereshehadnoticedsomefatyoungchickensthedaybefore。
\'PerhapsIdidtreathimratherbadly,\'shesaidtoherself。\'Butitseemsgettingcloudy,andifthereshouldbeheavyraintheotherbucketwillfillandsinktothebottom,andhiswillgoup——atleastitmay！\'
[FromCuentosPopulares,porAntoniodeTrueba。]
HowIanDireachGottheBlueFalconLongagoakingandqueenruledovertheislandsofthewest,andtheyhadoneson,whomtheyloveddearly。Theboygrewuptobetallandstrongandhandsome,andhecouldrunandshoot,andswimanddivebetterthananyladofhisownageinthecountry。Besides,heknewhowtosailabout,andsingsongstotheharp,andduringthewinterevenings,wheneveryonewasgatheredroundthehugehallfireshapingbowsorweavingcloth,IanDireachwouldtellthemtalesofthedeedsofhisfathers。
SothetimeslippedbytillIanwasalmostaman,astheyreckonedmeninthosedays,andthenhismotherthequeendied。Therewasgreatmourningthroughoutalltheisles,andtheboyandhisfathermournedherbitterlyalso;butbeforethenewyearcamethekinghadmarriedanotherwife,andseemedtohaveforgottenhisoldone。OnlyIanremembered。
Onamorningwhentheleaveswereyellowinthetreesoftheglen,Ianslunghisbowoverhisshoulder,andfillinghisquiverwitharrows,wentontothehillinsearchofgame。Butnotabirdwastobeseenanywhere,tillatlengthabluefalconflewpasthim,andraisinghisbowhetookaimather。Hiseyewasstraightandhishandsteady,butthefalcon\'sflightwasswift,andheonlyshotafeatherfromherwing。Asthesunwasnowlowovertheseaheputthefeatherinhisgamebag,andsetouthomewards。
\'Haveyoubroughtmemuchgameto—day？\'askedhisstepmotherasheenteredthehall。
\'Noughtsavethis,\'heanswered,handingherthefeatherofthebluefalcon,whichsheheldbythetipandgazedatsilently。ThensheturnedtoIanandsaid:
\'Iamsettingitonyouascrossesandasspells,andasthefalloftheyear！Thatyoumayalwaysbecold,andwetanddirty,andthatyourshoesmayeverhavepoolsinthem,tillyoubringmehitherthebluefalcononwhichthatfeathergrew。\'
\'IfitisspellsyouarelayingIcanlaythemtoo,\'answeredIanDireach;\'andyoushallstandwithonefootonthegreathouseandanotheronthecastle,tillIcomebackagain,andyourfaceshallbetothewind,fromwheresoeveritshallblow。\'Thenhewentawaytoseekthebird,ashisstepmotherbadehim;and,lookinghomewardsfromthehill,hesawthequeenstandingwithonefootonthegreathouse,andtheotheronthecastle,andherfaceturnedtowardswhatevertempestshouldblow。
Onhejourneyed,overhills,andthroughriverstillhereachedawideplain,andneveraglimpsedidhecatchofthefalcon。Darkeranddarkeritgrew,andthesmallbirdswereseekingtheirnests,andatlengthIanDireachcouldseenomore,andhelaydownundersomebushesandsleepcametohim。Andinhisdreamasoftnosetouchedhim,andawarmbodycurledupbesidehim,andalowvoicewhisperedtohim:
\'Fortuneisagainstyou,IanDireach;Ihavebutthecheekandthehoofofasheeptogiveyou,andwiththeseyoumustbecontent。\'WiththatIanDireachawoke,andbeheldGilleMairteanthefox。
Betweenthemtheykindledafire,andatetheirsupper。ThenGilleMairteanthefoxbadeIanDireachliedownasbefore,andsleeptillmorning。Andinthemorning,whenheawoke,GilleMairteansaid:
\'ThefalconthatyouseekisinthekeepingoftheGiantoftheFiveHeads,andtheFiveNecks,andtheFiveHumps。Iwillshowyouthewaytohishouse,andIcounselyoutodohisbidding,nimblyandcheerfully,and,aboveall,totreathisbirdskindly,forinthismannerhemaygiveyouhisfalcontofeedandcarefor。Andwhenthishappens,waittillthegiantisoutofhishouse;thenthrowaclothoverthefalconandbearherawaywithyou。Onlyseethatnotoneofherfeatherstouchesanythingwithinthehouse,orevilwillbefallyou。\'
\'Ithankyouforyourcounsel,\'spakeIanDireach,\'andIwillbecarefultofollowit。\'Thenhetookthepathtothegiant\'shouse。
\'Whoisthere？\'criedthegiant,assomeoneknockedloudlyonthedoorofhishouse。
\'Onewhoseeksworkasaservant,\'answeredIanDireach。
\'Andwhatcanyoudo？\'askedthegiantagain。
\'Icanfeedbirdsandtendpigs;Icanfeedandmilkacow,andalsogoatsandsheep,ifyouhaveanyofthese,\'repliedIanDireach。
\'Thenenter,forIhavegreatneedofsuchaone,\'saidthegiant。
SoIanDireachentered,andtendedsowellandcarefullyallthebirdsandbeasts,thatthegiantwasbettersatisfiedthaneverhehadbeen,andatlengthhethoughtthathemightevenbetrustedtofeedthefalcon。AndtheheartofIanwasglad,andhetendedthebluefalcontillhisfathersshonelikethesky,andthegiantwaswellpleased;
andonedayhesaidtohim:
\'Forlongmybrothersontheothersideofthemountainhavebesoughtmetovisitthem,butnevercouldIgoforfearofmyfalcon。NowI
thinkIcanleaveherwithyouforoneday,andbeforenightfallI
shallbebackagain。\'
ScarcelywasthegiantoutofsightnextmorningwhenIanDireachseizedthefalcon,andthrowingaclothoverherheadhastenedwithhertothedoor。Buttheraysofthesunpiercedthroughthethicknessofthecloth,andastheypassedthedoorpostshegaveaspring,andthetipofoneofherfeatherstouchedthepost,whichgaveascream,andbroughtthegiantbackinthreestrides。IanDireachtrembledashesawhim;butthegiantonlysaid:
\'IfyouwishformyfalconyoumustfirstbringmetheWhiteSwordofLightthatisinthehouseoftheBigWomenofDhiurradh。\'
\'Andwheredotheylive？\'askedIan。Butthegiantanswered:
\'Ah,thatisforyoutodiscover。\'AndIandaredsaynomore,andhasteneddowntothewaste。There,ashehoped,hemethisfriendGilleMairteanthefox,whobadehimeathissupperandliedowntosleep。Andwhenhehadwakenednextmorningthefoxsaidtohim:
\'Letusgodowntotheshoreofthesea。\'Andtotheshoreoftheseatheywent。Andaftertheyhadreachedtheshore,andbeheldtheseastretchingbeforethem,andtheisleofDhiurradhinthemidstofit,thesoulofIansank,andheturnedtoGilleMairteanandaskedwhyhehadbroughthimthither,forthegiant,whenhehadsenthim,hadknownfullwellthatwithoutaboathecouldneverfindtheBigWomen。
\'Donotbecastdown,\'answeredthefox,\'itisquiteeasy！Iwillchangemyselfintoaboat,andyoushallgoonboardme,andIwillcarryyouovertheseatotheSevenBigWomenofDhiurradh。Tellthemthatyouareskilledinbrighteningsilverandgold,andintheendtheywilltakeyouasservant,andifyouarecarefultopleasethemtheywillgiveyoutheWhiteSwordofLighttomakebrightandshining。
Butwhenyouseektostealit,takeheedthatitssheathtouchesnothinginsidethehouse,orillwillbefallyou。\'
SoIanDireachdidallthingsasthefoxhadtoldhim,andtheSevenBigWomenofDhiurradhtookhimfortheirservant,andforsixweeksheworkedsohardthathissevenmistressessaidtoeachother:\'Neverhasaservanthadtheskilltomakeallbrightandshininglikethisone。
LetusgivehimtheWhiteSwordofLighttopolishliketherest。\'
ThentheybroughtforththeWhiteSwordofLightfromtheironclosetwhereithung,andbadehimrubittillhecouldseehisfaceintheshiningblade;andhedidso。Butoneday,whentheSevenBigWomenwereoutoftheway,hebethoughthimthatthemomenthadcomeforhimtocarryoffthesword,and,replacingitinitssheath,hehoisteditonhisshoulder。Butjustashewaspassingthroughthedoorthetipofthesheathtouchedit,andthedoorgavealoudshriek。AndtheBigWomenheardit,andcamerunningback,andtooktheswordfromhim,andsaid:
\'Ifitisourswordyouwant,youmustfirstbringusthebaycoltoftheKingofErin。\'
Humbledandashamed,IanDireachleftthehouse,andsatbythesideofthesea,andsoonGilleMairteanthefoxcametohim。
\'PlainlyIseethatyouhavetakennoheedtomywords,IanDireach,\'
spokethefox。\'Buteatfirst,andyetoncemorewillIhelpyou。\'