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diff --git a/36540-h/36540-h.htm b/36540-h/36540-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..64ebe1a --- /dev/null +++ b/36540-h/36540-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,11252 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Myths and Folk Tales of Ireland, by Jeremiah Curtin</title> + <style type="text/css"> + + #booktitle { + letter-spacing : 3px; + } + + .cen { + text-align : center; + font-weight : bold; + } + + .dropcap { + text-indent : 0; + } + + .fnanchor { + vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: + none; + } + + .footnote { + font-size: 0.9em; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-left: 10%; + } + + .footnote .label { + position: absolute; + right: 84%; + text-align: right; + } + + .h2 { + font-size: 1.5em; margin: .75em 0; + } + + .h3 { + font-size: 1.17em; margin: .83em 0; + } + + .h4 { + margin: 1.12em 0 ; + } + + .h2, .h3, .h4 { + font-weight: bolder; + text-align : center; + text-indent : 0; + } + + h3.pg { + font-size: 110%; + margin: 0em 0; + font-weight: bold; + text-align: center; + } + + .noin { + text-indent : 0; + } + + .pagenum { +/* visibility : hidden; comment out to display page numbers */ + position : absolute; + right : 2%; + font-size : 75%; + color : gray; + background-color : inherit; + text-align : right; + text-indent : 0; + font-style : normal; + font-weight : normal; + font-variant : normal; + } + + .tdlsc { + text-align : left; + font-variant : small-caps; + } + + .tdr { + text-align : right; + padding-right : 1em; + } + + .trnote { + margin-left : 5%; + margin-right : 5%; + margin-top : 5%; + margin-bottom : 5%; + padding : 1em; + background-color : #f6f2f2; + color : black; + border : 1px dotted black; + } + + body { + margin-left : 10%; + margin-right : 10%; + } + + div.centered { + text-align : center; + } + + div.centered table { + margin-left : auto; + margin-right : auto; + text-align : left; + } + + h1, h2, hr { + text-align : center; + } + + hr { + width : 50%; + } + + html > body hr { + margin-right : 25%; + margin-left : 25%; + width : 50%; + } + + hr.chapter { + margin-top : 6em; + margin-bottom : 4em; + } + + p.dropcap:first-letter { + float : left; + padding-right : 3px; + font-size : 265%; + line-height : 83%; + width : auto; + } + + p { + text-align : justify; + margin-top : .3em; + margin-bottom : .3em; + text-indent : 1em; + } + + hr.full { width: 100%; + margin-top: 3em; + margin-bottom: 0em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + height: 4px; + border-width: 4px 0 0 0; /* remove all borders except the top one */ + border-style: solid; + border-color: #000000; + clear: both; } + pre {font-size: 85%;} + </style> +</head> +<body> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, Myths and Folk Tales of Ireland, by Jeremiah +Curtin</h1> +<pre> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: Myths and Folk Tales of Ireland</p> +<p>Author: Jeremiah Curtin</p> +<p>Release Date: June 27, 2011 [eBook #36540]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MYTHS AND FOLK TALES OF IRELAND***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3 class="pg">E-text prepared by Ruth Morrison, Matthew Wheaton, David Edwards,<br /> + and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (http://www.pgdp.net)</h3> + +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> + + <div> + <br /> + + <br /> + + +<h1 id="booktitle">MYTHS <br /> +AND FOLK TALES <br /> +OF IRELAND</h1> + +<p class="h2">JEREMIAH CURTIN</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<p class="h4">CONTENTS.</p> + + <div class="centered"> + <table border="0" + cellpadding="2" + cellspacing="0" + width="60%" + summary="Table of Contents"> + + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc" width="70%">The Son of the King of Erin, and the Giant of Loch Léin</td> + <td class="tdr" width="20%"><a href="#CHAPTER_01">1</a></td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc">The Three Daughters of King O'Hara</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_02">15</a></td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc">The Weaver's Son and the Giant of the White Hill</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_03">26</a></td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc">Fair, Brown, and Trembling</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_04">37</a></td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc">The King of Erin and the Queen of the Lonesome Island</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_05">49</a></td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc">The Shee an Gannon and the Gruagach Gaire</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_06">65</a></td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc">The three Daughters of the King of the East, + and the Son of a King in Erin</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_07">77</a></td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc">The Fisherman's Son and the Gruagach of Tricks</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_08">85</a></td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc">The thirteenth Son of the King of Erin</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_09">99</a></td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc">Kil Arthur</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_10">113</a></td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc">Shaking-head</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_11">121</a></td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc">Birth of Fin MacCumhail and Origin of the + Fenians of Erin</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_12">135</a></td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc">Fin MacCumhail and the Fenians of Erin in + the Castle of Fear Dubh</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_13">148</a></td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc">Fin MacCumhail and the Knight of the Full Axe</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_14">157</a></td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc">Gilla na Grakin and Fin MacCumhail</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_15">166</a></td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc">Fin MacCumhail, the Seven Brothers, and the + King of France</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_16">186</a></td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc">Black, Brown, and Gray</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_17">195</a></td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc">Fin MacCumhail and the Son of the King of Alba</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_18">203</a></td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc">Cucúlin</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_19">212</a></td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc">Oisin in Tir na n-Og</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_20">230</a></td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc">Notes</td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_21">243</a></td> + </tr> + </table> + </div> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<p class="h2"> + MYTHS AND FOLK TALES OF IRELAND +</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum">[1]</span></p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<h2> + <a name="CHAPTER_01" id="CHAPTER_01"></a> + THE SON OF THE KING OF ERIN AND THE GIANT OF LOCH LÉIN. + <a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">1</a> +</h2> + +<p class="dropcap">ON a time there lived a king and a queen in +Erin, and they had an only son. They +were very careful and fond of this son; whatever +he asked for was granted, and what he wanted he +had.</p> + +<p>When grown to be almost a young man the son +went away one day to the hills to hunt. He could +find no game,—saw nothing all day. Towards +evening he sat down on a hillside to rest, but soon +stood up again and started to go home empty-handed. +Then he heard a whistle behind him, and +turning, saw a giant hurrying down the hill.</p> + +<p>The giant came to him, took his hand, and said: +"Can you play cards?"</p> + +<p>"I can indeed," said the king's son.</p> + +<p>"Well, if you can," said the giant, "we'll have +a game here on this hillside."</p> + +<p>So the two sat down, and the giant had out a +pack of cards in a twinkling. "What shall we play +for?" asked the giant.</p> + +<p>"For two estates," answered the king's son.</p> + +<p>They played: the young man won, and went +home the better for two estates. He was very +glad, and hurried to tell his father the luck he had.</p> + +<p>Next day he went to the same place, and didn't +wait long till the giant came again.</p> + +<p>"Welcome, king's son," said the giant. "What +shall we play for to-day?" +<span class="pagenum">[2]</span></p> + +<p>"I'll leave that to yourself," answered the young +man.</p> + +<p>"Well," said the giant, "I have five hundred +bullocks with golden horns and silver hoofs, and +I'll play them against as many cattle belonging to +you."</p> + +<p>"Agreed," said the king's son.</p> + +<p>They played. The giant lost again. He had +the cattle brought to the place; and the king's son +went home with the five hundred bullocks. The +king his father was outside watching, and was more +delighted than the day before when he saw the +drove of beautiful cattle with horns of gold and +hoofs of silver.</p> + +<p>When the bullocks were driven in, the king sent +for the old blind sage (Sean dall Glic), to know +what he would say of the young man's luck.</p> + +<p>"My advice," said the old blind sage, "is not to +let your son go the way of the giant again, for if +he plays with him a third time he'll rue it."</p> + +<p>But nothing could keep the king's son from +playing the third time. Away he went, in spite of +every advice and warning, and sat on the same +hillside.</p> + +<p>He waited long, but no one came. At last he +rose to go home. That moment he heard a whistle +behind him, and turning, saw the giant coming.</p> + +<p>"Well, will you play with me to-day?" asked +the giant.</p> + +<p>"I would," said the king's son, "but I have +nothing to bet."</p> + +<p>"You have indeed."</p> + +<p>"I have not," said the king's son.</p> + +<p>"Haven't you your head?" asked the giant of +Loch Léin, for it was he that was in it.</p> + +<p>"I have," answered the king's son. +<span class="pagenum">[3]</span> +</p> + +<p>"So have I my head," said the giant; "and +we'll play for each other's heads."</p> + +<p>This third time the giant won the game; and +the king's son was to give himself up in a year +and a day to the giant in his castle.</p> + +<p>The young man went home sad and weary. +The king and queen were outside watching, and +when they saw him approaching, they knew great +trouble was on him. When he came to where they +were, he wouldn't speak, but went straight into the +castle, and wouldn't eat or drink.</p> + +<p>He was sad and lamenting for a good while, till +at last he disappeared one day, the king and queen +knew not whither. After that they didn't hear of +him,—didn't know was he dead or alive.</p> + +<p>The young man after he left home was walking +along over the kingdom for a long time. One day +he saw no house, big or little, till after dark he +came in front of a hill, and at the foot of the hill +saw a small light. He went to the light, found a +small house, and inside an old woman sitting at a +warm fire, and every tooth in her head as long as +a staff.</p> + +<p>She stood up when he entered, took him by the +hand, and said, "You are welcome to my house, +son of the king of Erin." Then she brought warm +water, washed his feet and legs from the knees +down, gave him supper, and put him to bed.</p> + +<p>When he rose next morning he found breakfast +ready before him. The old woman said: "You +were with me last night; you'll be with my sister +to-night, and what she tells you to do, do, or your +head'll be in danger. Now take the gift I give +you. Here is a ball of thread: do you throw it in +front of you before you start, and all day the ball +will be rolling ahead of you, and you'll be following<span class="pagenum">[4]</span> +behind winding the thread into another ball."</p> + +<p>He obeyed the old woman, threw the ball down, +and followed. All the day he was going up hill +and down, across valleys and open places, keeping +the ball in sight and winding the thread as he went, +till evening, when he saw a hill in front, and a +small light at the foot of it.</p> + +<p>He went to the light and found a house, which +he entered. There was no one inside but an old +woman with teeth as long as a crutch.</p> + +<p>"Oh! then you are welcome to my house, king's +son of Erin," said she. "You were with my sister +last night; you are with me to-night; and it's glad +I am to see you."</p> + +<p>She gave him meat and drink and a good bed to +lie on.</p> + +<p>When he rose next morning breakfast was there +before him, and when he had eaten and was ready +for the journey, the old woman gave him a ball of +thread, saying: "You were with my younger sister +the night before last; you were with me last night; +and you'll be with my elder sister to-night. You +must do what she tells you, or you'll lose your +head. You must throw this ball before you, and +follow the clew till evening."</p> + +<p>He threw down the ball: it rolled on, showing +the way up and down mountains and hills, across +valleys and braes. All day he wound the ball; +unceasingly it went till nightfall, when he came to a +light, found a little house, and went in. Inside was +an old woman, the eldest sister, who said: "You are +welcome, and glad am I to see you, king's son."</p> + +<p>She treated him as well as the other two had +done. After he had eaten breakfast next morning, +she said:—</p> + +<p>"I know well the journey you are on. You<span class="pagenum">[5]</span> +have lost your head to the Giant of Loch Léin, and +you are going to give yourself up. This giant has +a great castle. Around the castle are seven hundred +iron spikes, and on every spike of them but +one is the head of a king, a queen, or a king's son. +The seven hundredth spike is empty, and nothing +can save your head from that spike if you don't +take my advice.</p> + +<p>"Here is a ball for you: walk behind it till you +come to a lake near the giant's castle. When +you come to that lake at midday the ball will be +unwound.</p> + +<p>"The giant has three young daughters, and they +come at noon every day of the year to bathe in the +lake. You must watch them well, for each will +have a lily on her breast,—one a blue, another a +white, and the third a yellow lily. You mustn't +let your eyes off the one with the yellow lily. +Watch her well: when she undresses to go into the +water, see where she puts her clothes; when the +three are out in the lake swimming, do you slip +away with the clothes of Yellow Lily.</p> + +<p>"When the sisters come out from bathing, and +find that the one with the yellow lily has lost her +clothes, the other two will laugh and make game +of her, and she will crouch down crying on the +shore, with nothing to cover her, and say, 'How +can I go home now, and everybody making sport +of me? Whoever took my clothes, if he'll give +them back to me, I'll save him from the danger he +is in, if I have the power.'"</p> + +<p>The king's son followed the ball till nearly noon, +when it stopped at a lake not far from the giant's +castle. Then he hid behind a rock at the water's +edge, and waited.</p> + +<p>At midday the three sisters came to the lake,<span class="pagenum">[6]</span> +and, leaving their clothes on the strand, went into +the water. When all three were in the lake swimming +and playing with great pleasure and sport, +the king's son slipped out and took the clothes of +the sister with the yellow lily.</p> + +<p>After they had bathed in the lake to their hearts' +content, the three sisters came out. When the +two with the blue and the white lilies saw their +sister on the shore and her clothes gone, they +began to laugh and make sport of her. Then, +cowering and crouching down, she began to cry +and lament, saying: "How can I go home now, +with my own sisters laughing at me? If I stir +from this, everybody will see me and make sport +of me."</p> + +<p>The sisters went home and left her there. When +they were gone, and she was alone at the water +crying and sobbing, all at once she came to herself +and called out: "Whoever took my clothes, I'll +forgive him if he brings them to me now, and +I'll save him from the danger he is in if I +can."</p> + +<p>When he heard this, the king's son put the +clothes out to her, and stayed behind himself till +she told him to come forth.</p> + +<p>Then she said: "I know well where you are +going. My father, the Giant of Loch Léin, has a +soft bed waiting for you,—a deep tank of water +for your death. But don't be uneasy; go into +the water, and wait till I come to save you. Be at +that castle above before my father. When he +comes home to-night and asks for you, take no +meat from him, but go to rest in the tank when +he tells you."</p> + +<p>The giant's daughter left the king's son, who +went his way to the castle alone at a fair and easy<span class="pagenum">[7]</span> +gait, for he had time enough on his hands and to +spare.</p> + +<p>When the Giant of Loch Léin came home that +night, the first question he asked was, "Is the son +of the king of Erin here?"</p> + +<p>"I am," said the king's son.</p> + +<p>"Come," said the giant, "and get your evening's +meat."</p> + +<p>"I'll take no meat now, for I don't need it," +said the king's son.</p> + +<p>"Well, come with me then, and I'll show you +your bed." He went, and the giant put the king's +son into the deep tank of water to drown, and being +tired himself from hunting all day over the +mountains and hills of Erin, he went to sleep.</p> + +<p>That minute his youngest daughter came, took +the king's son out of the tank, placed plenty to eat +and to drink before him, and gave him a good bed +to sleep on that night.</p> + +<p>The giant's daughter watched till she heard her +father stirring before daybreak; then she roused +the king's son, and put him in the tank again.</p> + +<p>Soon the giant came to the tank and called out: +"Are you here, son of the king of Erin?"</p> + +<p>"I am," said the king's son.</p> + +<p>"Well, come out now. There is a great work +for you to-day. I have a stable outside, in which +I keep five hundred horses, and that stable has not +been cleaned these seven hundred years. My +great-grandmother when a girl lost a slumber-pin +(<i>bar an suan</i>) somewhere in that stable, and never +could find it. You must have that pin for me +when I come home to-night; if you don't, your +head will be on the seven hundredth spike to-morrow."</p> + +<p>Then two shovels were brought for him to choose<span class="pagenum">[8]</span> +from to clean out the stable, an old and a new +one. He chose the new shovel, and went to +work.</p> + +<p>For every shovelful he threw out, two came +in; and soon the door of the stable was closed +on him. When the stable-door was closed, the +giant's daughter called from outside: "How are +you thriving now, king's son?"</p> + +<p>"I'm not thriving at all," said the king's son; +"for as much as I throw out, twice as much comes +in, and the door is closed against me."</p> + +<p>"You must make a way for me to come in, and +I'll help you," said she.</p> + +<p>"How can I do that?" asked the king's son.</p> + +<p>However, she did it. The giant's daughter made +her way into the stable, and she wasn't long inside +till the stable was cleared, and she saw the +<i>bar an suan</i>.</p> + +<p>"There is the pin over there in the corner," +said she to the king's son, who put it in his bosom +to give to the giant.</p> + +<p>Now he was happy, and the giant's daughter had +good meat and drink put before him.</p> + +<p>When the giant himself came home, he asked: +"How did you do your work to-day?"</p> + +<p>"I did it well; I thought nothing of it."</p> + +<p>"Did you find the <i>bar an suan</i>?"</p> + +<p>"I did indeed; here 'tis for you."</p> + +<p>"Oh! then," said the giant, "it is either the +devil or my daughter that helped you to do that +work, for I know you never did it alone."</p> + +<p>"It's neither the devil nor your daughter, but my +own strength that did the work," said the son of +the king of Erin.</p> + +<p>"You have done the work; now you must have +your meat."<span class="pagenum">[9]</span> +"I want no meat to-day; I am well satisfied as I +am," said the king's son.</p> + +<p>"Well," said the giant, "since you'll have no +meat, you must go to sleep in the tank."</p> + +<p>He went into the tank. The giant himself was +soon snoring, for he was tired from hunting over +Erin all day.</p> + +<p>The moment her father was away, Yellow Lily +came, took the king's son out of the tank, gave +him a good supper and bed, and watched till the +giant was stirring before daybreak. Then she +roused the king's son and put him in the tank.</p> + +<p>"Are you alive in the tank?" asked the giant at +daybreak.</p> + +<p>"I am," said the king's son.</p> + +<p>"Well, you have a great work before you to-day. +That stable you cleaned yesterday hasn't been +thatched these seven hundred years, and if you +don't have it thatched for me when I come home +to-night, with birds' feathers, and not two feathers +of one color or kind, I'll have your head on the +seven hundredth spike to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"Here are two whistles,—an old, and a new one; +take your choice of them to call the birds."</p> + +<p>The king's son took the new whistle, and set out +over the hills and valleys, whistling as he went. +But no matter how he whistled, not a bird came +near him. At last, tired and worn out with travelling +and whistling, he sat down on a hillock and +began to cry.</p> + +<p>That moment Yellow Lily was at his side with a +cloth, which she spread out, and there was a grand +meal before him. He hadn't finished eating and +drinking, before the stable was thatched with birds' +feathers, and no two of them of one color or kind.</p> + +<p>When he came home that evening the giant<span class="pagenum">[10]</span> +called out: "Have you the stable thatched for me +to-night?"</p> + +<p>"I have indeed," said the king's son; "and small +trouble I had with it."</p> + +<p>"If that's true," said the giant, "either the devil +or my daughter helped you."</p> + +<p>"It was my own strength, and not the devil or +your daughter that helped me," said the king's +son.</p> + +<p>He spent that night as he had the two nights +before.</p> + +<p>Next morning, when the giant found him alive in +the tank, he said: "There is great work before you +to-day, which you must do, or your head'll be on +the spike to-morrow. Below here, under my castle, +is a tree nine hundred feet high, and there isn't a +limb on that tree, from the roots up, except one +small limb at the very top, where there is a crow's +nest. The tree is covered with glass from the +ground to the crow's nest. In the nest is one egg: +you must have that egg before me here for my +supper to-night, or I'll have your head on the +seven hundredth spike to-morrow."</p> + +<p>The giant went hunting, and the king's son went +down to the tree, tried to shake it, but could not +make it stir. Then he tried to climb; but no use, it +was all slippery glass. Then he thought, "Sure I'm +done for now; I must lose my head this time."</p> + +<p>He stood there in sadness, when Yellow Lily +came, and said: "How are you thriving in your +work?"</p> + +<p>"I can do nothing," said the king's son.</p> + +<p>"Well, all that we have done up to this time is +nothing to climbing this tree. But first of all let +us sit down together and eat, and then we'll talk," +said Yellow Lily.</p> + +<p>They sat down, she spread the cloth again, and<span class="pagenum">[11]</span> +they had a splendid feast. When the feast was +over she took out a knife from her pocket and +said:—</p> + +<p>"Now you must kill me, strip the flesh from my +bones, take all the bones apart, and use them as +steps for climbing the tree. When you are climbing +the tree, they will stick to the glass as if they +had grown out of it; but when you are coming +down, and have put your foot on each one, they will +drop into your hand when you touch them. Be +sure and stand on each bone, leave none untouched; +if you do, it will stay behind. Put all my flesh into +this clean cloth by the side of the spring at the +roots of the tree. When you come to the earth, +arrange my bones together, put the flesh over +them, sprinkle it with water from the spring, and +I shall be alive and well before you. But don't +forget a bone of me on the tree."</p> + +<p>"How could I kill you," asked the king's son, +"after what you have done for me?"</p> + +<p>"If you won't obey, you and I are done for," +said Yellow Lily. "You must climb the tree, or +we are lost; and to climb the tree you must do as +I say."</p> + +<p>The king's son obeyed. He killed Yellow Lily, +cut the flesh from her body, and unjointed the +bones, as she had told him.</p> + +<p>As he went up, the king's son put the bones of +Yellow Lily's body against the side of the tree, +using them as steps, till he came under the nest +and stood on the last bone.</p> + +<p>Then he took the crow's egg; and coming down, +put his foot on every bone, then took it with him, +till he came to the last bone, which was so near +the ground that he failed to touch it with his +foot.</p> + +<p>He now placed all the bones of Yellow Lily in<span class="pagenum">[12]</span> +order again at the side of the spring, put the flesh +on them, sprinkled it with water from the spring. +She rose up before him, and said: "Didn't I tell +you not to leave a bone of my body without stepping +on it? Now I am lame for life! You left +my little toe on the tree without touching it, and +I have but nine toes."</p> + +<p>When the giant came home that night, the first +words he had were, "Have you the crow's egg +for my supper?"</p> + +<p>"I have," said the king's son.</p> + +<p>"If you have, then either the devil or my daughter +is helping you."</p> + +<p>"It is my own strength that's helping me," said +the king's son.</p> + +<p>"Well, whoever it is, I must forgive you now, +and your head is your own."</p> + +<p>So the king's son was free to go his own road, +and away he went, and never stopped till he came +home to his own father and mother, who had a +great welcome before him; and why not? for they +thought he was dead.</p> + +<p>When the son was at home a time, the king +called up the old blind sage, and asked, "What +must I do with my son now?"</p> + +<p>"If you follow my advice," said the old blind +sage, "you'll find a wife for him; and then he'll +not go roaming away again, and leave you as he +did before."</p> + +<p>The king was pleased with the advice, and he +sent a message to the king of Lochlin<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">2</a> to ask his +daughter in marriage.</p> + +<p>The king of Lochlin came with the daughter +and a ship full of attendants, and there was to be a +grand wedding at the castle of the king of Erin.<span class="pagenum">[13]</span> +Now, the king's son asked his father to invite +the Giant of Loch Léin and Yellow Lily to the +wedding. The king sent messages for them to +come.</p> + +<p>The day before the marriage there was a great +feast at the castle. As the feast went on, and all +were merry, the Giant of Loch Léin said: "I +never was at a place like this but one man sang a +song, a second told a story, and the third played +a trick."</p> + +<p>Then the king of Erin sang a song, the king +of Lochlin told a story, and when the turn came +to the giant, he asked Yellow Lily to take his +place.</p> + +<p>She threw two grains of wheat in the air, and +there came down on the table two pigeons. The +cock pigeon pecked at the hen and pushed her off +the table. Then the hen called out to him in a +human voice, "You wouldn't do that to me the +day I cleaned the stable for you."</p> + +<p>Next time Yellow Lily put two grains of wheat +on the table. The cock ate the wheat, pecked the +hen, and pushed her off the table to the floor. +The hen said: "You would not do that to me the +day I thatched the stable for you with birds' feathers, +and not two of one color or kind."</p> + +<p>The third time Yellow Lily put two more grains +of wheat on the table. The cock ate both, and +pushed the hen off to the floor. Then the hen +called out: "You wouldn't do that to me the day +you killed me and took my bones to make steps +up the glass tree nine hundred feet high to get the +crow's egg for the supper of the Giant of Loch +Léin, and forget my little toe when you were +coming down, and left me lame for life."</p> + +<p>"Well," said the king's son to the guests at the<span class="pagenum">[14]</span> +feast, "when I was a little younger than I am now, +I used to be everywhere in the world sporting and +gaming; and once when I was away, I lost the key +of a casket that I had. I had a new key made, +and after it was brought to me I found the old +one. Now, I'll leave it to any one here to tell +what am I to do,—which of the keys should I +keep?"</p> + +<p>"My advice to you," said the king of Lochlin, +"is to keep the old key, for it fits the lock better, +and you're more used to it."</p> + +<p>Then the king's son stood up and said: "I thank +you, king of Lochlin, for a wise advice and an +honest word. This is my bride, the daughter of the +Giant of Loch Léin. I'll have her, and no other +woman. Your daughter is my father's guest, and +no worse, but better, for having come to a wedding +in Erin."</p> + +<p>The king's son married Yellow Lily, daughter +of the Giant of Loch Léin, the wedding lasted +long, and all were happy +<span class="pagenum">[15]</span>.</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<h2> + <a name="CHAPTER_02" id="CHAPTER_02"></a> + THE THREE DAUGHTERS OF KING O'HARA. +</h2> + +<p class="dropcap">THERE was a king in Desmond whose name +was Coluath O'Hara, and he had three +daughters. On a time when the king was away +from home, the eldest daughter took a thought +that she'd like to be married. So she went up in +the castle, put on the cloak of darkness which her +father had, and wished for the most beautiful man +under the sun as a husband for herself.</p> + +<p>She got her wish; for scarcely had she put off +the cloak of darkness, when there came, in a golden +coach with four horses, two black and two white, +the finest man she had ever laid eyes on, and took +her away.</p> + +<p>When the second daughter saw what had happened +to her sister, she put on the cloak of darkness, +and wished for the next best man in the +world as a husband.</p> + +<p>She put off the cloak; and straightway there +came, in a golden coach with four black horses, a +man nearly as good as the first, and took her +away.</p> + +<p>The third sister put on the cloak, and wished for +the best white dog in the world.</p> + +<p>Presently he came, with one man attending, in a +golden coach and four snow-white horses, and took +the youngest sister away.</p> + +<p>When the king came home, the stable-boy told +him what had happened while he was gone. He<span class="pagenum">[16]</span> +was enraged beyond measure when he heard that +his youngest daughter had wished for a white dog, +and gone off with him.</p> + +<p>When the first man brought his wife home he +asked: "In what form will you have me in the +daytime,—as I am now in the daytime, or as I am +now at night?"</p> + +<p>"As you are now in the daytime."</p> + +<p>So the first sister had her husband as a man in +the daytime; but at night he was a seal.</p> + +<p>The second man put the same question to the +middle sister, and got the same answer; so the +second sister had her husband in the same form as +the first.</p> + +<p>When the third sister came to where the white +dog lived, he asked her: "How will you have me +to be in the daytime,—as I am now in the day, +or as I am now at night?"</p> + +<p>"As you are now in the day."</p> + +<p>So the white dog was a dog in the daytime, but +the most beautiful of men at night.</p> + +<p>After a time the third sister had a son; and +one day, when her husband was going out to +hunt, he warned her that if anything should +happen the child, not to shed a tear on that +account.</p> + +<p>While he was gone, a great gray crow that used +to haunt the place came and carried the child away +when it was a week old.</p> + +<p>Remembering the warning, she shed not a tear +for the loss.</p> + +<p>All went on as before till another son was born. +The husband used to go hunting every day, and +again he said she must not shed a tear if anything +happened.</p> + +<p>When the child was a week old a great gray<span class="pagenum">[17]</span> +crow came and bore him away; but the mother +did not cry or drop a tear.</p> + +<p>All went well till a daughter was born. When +she was a week old a great gray crow came and +swept her away. This time the mother dropped +one tear on a handkerchief, which she took out of +her pocket, and then put back again.</p> + +<p>When the husband came home from hunting +and heard what the crow had done, he asked the +wife, "Have you shed tears this time?"</p> + +<p>"I have dropped one tear," said she.</p> + +<p>Then he was very angry; for he knew what harm +she had done by dropping that one tear.</p> + +<p>Soon after their father invited the three sisters +to visit him and be present at a great feast in their +honor. They sent messages, each from her own +place, that they would come.</p> + +<p>The king was very glad at the prospect of seeing +his children; but the queen was grieved, and +thought it a great disgrace that her youngest +daughter had no one to come home with her but +a white dog.</p> + +<p>The white dog was in dread that the king +wouldn't leave him inside with the company, but +would drive him from the castle to the yard, and +that the dogs outside wouldn't leave a patch of +skin on his back, but would tear the life out of him.</p> + +<p>The youngest daughter comforted him. "There +is no danger to you," said she, "for wherever I am, +you'll be, and wherever you go, I'll follow and +take care of you."</p> + +<p>When all was ready for the feast at the castle, and +the company were assembled, the king was for banishing +the white dog; but the youngest daughter +would not listen to her father,—would not let the +white dog out of her sight, but kept him near her<span class="pagenum">[18]</span> +at the feast, and divided with him the food that +came to herself.</p> + +<p>When the feast was over, and all the guests had +gone, the three sisters went to their own rooms in +the castle.</p> + +<p>Late in the evening the queen took the cook +with her, and stole in to see what was in her +daughters' rooms. They were all asleep at the +time. What should she see by the side of her +youngest daughter but the most beautiful man she +had ever laid eyes on.</p> + +<p>Then she went to where the other two daughters +were sleeping; and there, instead of the two men +who brought them to the feast, were two seals, +fast asleep.</p> + +<p>The queen was greatly troubled at the sight of +the seals. When she and the cook were returning, +they came upon the skin of the white dog. She +caught it up as she went, and threw it into the +kitchen fire.</p> + +<p>The skin was not five minutes in the fire when it +gave a crack that woke not only all in the castle, +but all in the country for miles around.</p> + +<p>The husband of the youngest daughter sprang +up. He was very angry and very sorry, and said: +"If I had been able to spend three nights with +you under your father's roof, I should have got +back my own form again for good, and could have +been a man both in the day and the night; but +now I must go."</p> + +<p>He rose from the bed, ran out of the castle, and +away he went as fast as ever his two legs could carry +him, overtaking the one before him, and leaving the +one behind. He was this way all that night and the +next day; but he couldn't leave the wife, for she +followed from the castle, was after him in the night +and the day too, and never lost sight of him.<span class="pagenum">[19]</span> +In the afternoon he turned, and told her to go +back to her father; but she would not listen to him. +At nightfall they came to the first house they had +seen since leaving the castle. He turned and said: +"Do you go inside and stay in this house till morning; +I'll pass the night outside where I am."</p> + +<p>The wife went in. The woman of the house rose +up, gave her a pleasant welcome, and put a good +supper before her. She was not long in the house +when a little boy came to her knee and called her +"Mother."</p> + +<p>The woman of the house told the child to go +back to his place, and not to come out again.</p> + +<p>"Here are a pair of scissors," said the woman of +the house to the king's daughter, "and they will +serve you well. Whatever ragged people you see, +if you cut a piece off their rags, that moment they +will have new clothes of cloth of gold."</p> + +<p>She stayed that night, for she had good welcome. +Next morning when she went out, her husband +said: "You'd better go home now to your +father."</p> + +<p>"I'll not go to my father if I have to leave +you," said she.</p> + +<p>So he went on, and she followed. It was that +way all the day till night came; and at nightfall +they saw another house at the foot of a hill, and +again the husband stopped and said: "You go in; +I'll stop outside till morning."</p> + +<p>The woman of the house gave her a good welcome. +After she had eaten and drunk, a little boy +came out of another room, ran to her knee, and +said, "Mother." The woman of the house sent the +boy back to where he had come from, and told him +to stay there.</p> + +<p>Next morning, when the princess was going out +to her husband, the woman of the house gave her a<span class="pagenum">[20]</span> +comb, and said: "If you meet any person with a +diseased and a sore head, and draw this comb over +it three times, the head will be well, and covered +with the most beautiful golden hair ever seen."</p> + +<p>She took the comb, and went out to her husband.</p> + +<p>"Leave me now," said he, "and go back to your +own father."</p> + +<p>"I will not," said she, "but I will follow you +while I have the power." So they went forward +that day, as on the other two.</p> + +<p>At nightfall they came to a third house, at the +foot of a hill, where the princess received a good +welcome. After she had eaten supper, a little girl +with only one eye came to her knee and said, "Mother."</p> + +<p>The princess began to cry at sight of the child, +thinking that she herself was the cause that it had +but one eye. Then she put her hand into her +pocket where she kept the handkerchief on which +she had dropped the tear when the gray crow +carried her infant away. She had never used the +handkerchief since that day, for there was an eye +on it.</p> + +<p>She opened the handkerchief, and put the eye in +the girl's head. It grew into the socket that minute, +and the child saw out of it as well as out of the +other eye; and then the woman of the house sent +the little one to bed.</p> + +<p>Next morning, as the king's daughter was going +out, the woman of the house gave her a whistle, and +said: "Whenever you put this whistle to your +mouth and blow on it, all the birds of the air will +come to you from every quarter under the sun. +Be careful of the whistle, as it may serve you +greatly."</p> + +<p>"Go back to your father's castle," said the husband<span class="pagenum">[21]</span> +when she came to him, "for I must leave you +to-day."</p> + +<p>They went on together a few hundred yards, and +then sat on a green hillock, and he told the wife: +"Your mother has come between us; but for her +we might have lived together all our days. If I had +been allowed to pass three nights with you in your +father's house, I should have got back my form +of a man both in the daytime and the night. +The Queen of Tir na n-Og [the land of youth] enchanted +and put on me a spell, that unless I could +spend three nights with a wife under her father's +roof in Erin, I should bear the form of a white +dog one half of my time; but if the skin of the +dog should be burned before the three nights +were over, I must go down to her kingdom and +marry the queen herself. And 'tis to her I am +going to-day. I have no power to stay, and I +must leave you; so farewell, you'll never see me +again on the upper earth."</p> + +<p>He left her sitting on the mound, went a few +steps forward to some bulrushes, pulled up one, +and disappeared in the opening where the rush +had been.</p> + +<p>She stopped there, sitting on the mound lamenting, +till evening, not knowing what to do. At last +she bethought herself, and going to the rushes, +pulled up a stalk, went down, followed her husband, +and never stopped till she came to the lower +land.</p> + +<p>After a while she reached a small house near a +splendid castle. She went into the house and asked, +could she stay there till morning. "You can," said +the woman of the house, "and welcome."</p> + +<p>Next day the woman of the house was washing +clothes, for that was how she made a living. The<span class="pagenum">[22]</span> +princess fell to and helped her with the work. +In the course of that day the Queen of Tir na n-Og +and the husband of the princess were married.</p> + +<p>Near the castle, and not far from the washerwoman's, +lived a henwife with two ragged little +daughters. One of them came around the washerwoman's +house to play. The child looked so +poor and her clothes were so torn and dirty that +the princess took pity on her, and cut the clothes +with the scissors which she had.</p> + +<p>That moment the most beautiful dress of cloth +of gold ever seen on woman or child in that kingdom +was on the henwife's daughter.</p> + +<p>When she saw what she had on, the child ran +home to her mother as fast as ever she could go.</p> + +<p>"Who gave you that dress?" asked the henwife.</p> + +<p>"A strange woman that is in that house beyond," +said the little girl, pointing to the washerwoman's +house.</p> + +<p>The henwife went straight to the Queen of Tir +na n-Og and said: "There is a strange woman in +the place, who will be likely to take your husband +from you, unless you banish her away or do something +to her; for she has a pair of scissors different +from anything ever seen or heard of in this +country."</p> + +<p>When the queen heard this she sent word to the +princess that, unless the scissors were given up to +her without delay, she would have the head off +her.</p> + +<p>The princess said she would give up the scissors +if the queen would let her pass one night with her +husband.</p> + +<p>The queen answered that she was willing to give +her the one night. The princess came and gave<span class="pagenum">[23]</span> +up the scissors, and went to her own husband; but +the queen had given him a drink, and he fell asleep, +and never woke till after the princess had gone in +the morning.</p> + +<p>Next day another daughter of the henwife went +to the washerwoman's house to play. She was +wretched-looking, her head being covered with +scabs and sores.</p> + +<p>The princess drew the comb three times over the +child's head, cured it, and covered it with beautiful +golden hair. The little girl ran home and told her +mother how the strange woman had drawn the +comb over her head, cured it, and given her beautiful +golden hair.</p> + +<p>The henwife hurried off to the queen and said: +"That strange woman has a comb with wonderful +power to cure, and give golden hair; and she'll +take your husband from you unless you banish her +or take her life."</p> + +<p>The queen sent word to the princess that unless +she gave up the comb, she would have her +life.</p> + +<p>The princess returned as answer that she would +give up the comb if she might pass one night with +the queen's husband.</p> + +<p>The queen was willing, and gave her husband a +draught as before. When the princess came, he +was fast asleep, and did not waken till after she +had gone in the morning.</p> + +<p>On the third day the washerwoman and the +princess went out to walk, and the first daughter +of the henwife with them. When they were outside +the town, the princess put the whistle to her +mouth and blew. That moment the birds of the +air flew to her from every direction in flocks. +Among them was a bird of song and new tales.<span class="pagenum">[24]</span> +The princess went to one side with the bird. +"What means can I take," asked she, "against +the queen to get back my husband? Is it best to +kill her, and can I do it?"</p> + +<p>"It is very hard," said the bird, "to kill her. +There is no one in all Tir na n-Og who is able to +take her life but her own husband. Inside a holly-tree +in front of the castle is a wether, in the wether +a duck, in the duck an egg, and in that egg is her +heart and life. No man in Tir na n-Og can cut that +holly-tree but her husband."</p> + +<p>The princess blew the whistle again. A fox and +a hawk came to her. She caught and put them +into two boxes, which the washerwoman had with +her, and took them to her new home.</p> + +<p>When the henwife's daughter went home, she +told her mother about the whistle. Away ran the +henwife to the queen, and said: "That strange +woman has a whistle that brings together all the +birds of the air, and she'll have your husband yet, +unless you take her head."</p> + +<p>"I'll take the whistle from her, anyhow," said +the queen. So she sent for the whistle.</p> + +<p>The princess gave answer that she would give +up the whistle if she might pass one night with the +queen's husband.</p> + +<p>The queen agreed, and gave him a draught as +on the other nights. He was asleep when the +princess came and when she went away.</p> + +<p>Before going, the princess left a letter with his +servant for the queen's husband, in which she told +how she had followed him to Tir na n-Og, and had +given the scissors, the comb, and the whistle, to +pass three nights in his company, but had not +spoken to him because the queen had given him +sleeping draughts; that the life of the queen was<span class="pagenum">[25]</span> +in an egg, the egg in a duck, the duck in a wether, +the wether in a holly-tree in front of the castle, +and that no man could split the tree but himself.</p> + +<p>As soon as he got the letter the husband took +an axe, and went to the holly-tree. When he +came to the tree he found the princess there before +him, having the two boxes with the fox and +the hawk in them.</p> + +<p>He struck the tree a few blows; it split open, +and out sprang the wether. He ran scarce twenty +perches before the fox caught him. The fox tore +him open; then the duck flew out. The duck +had not flown fifteen perches when the hawk +caught and killed her, smashing the egg. That +instant the Queen of Tir na n-Og died.</p> + +<p>The husband kissed and embraced his faithful +wife. He gave a great feast; and when the feast +was over, he burned the henwife with her house, +built a palace for the washerwoman, and made his +servant secretary.</p> + +<p>They never left Tir na n-Og, and are living there +happily now; and so may we live here. +<span class="pagenum">[26]</span></p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<h2> + <a name="CHAPTER_03" id="CHAPTER_03"></a> + THE WEAVER'S SON AND THE GIANT OF THE WHITE HILL. +</h2> + +<p class="dropcap">THERE was once a weaver in Erin who lived +at the edge of a wood; and on a time when +he had nothing to burn, he went out with his +daughter to get fagots for the fire.</p> + +<p>They gathered two bundles, and were ready to +carry them home, when who should come along but +a splendid-looking stranger on horseback. And he +said to the weaver: "My good man, will you give +me that girl of yours?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed then I will not," said the weaver.</p> + +<p>"I'll give you her weight in gold," said the +stranger, and he put out the gold there on the +ground.</p> + +<p>So the weaver went home with the gold and +without the daughter. He buried the gold in the +garden, without letting his wife know what he had +done. When she asked, "Where is our daughter?" +the weaver said: "I sent her on an errand +to a neighbor's house for things that I want."</p> + +<p>Night came, but no sight of the girl. The next +time he went for fagots, the weaver took his +second daughter to the wood; and when they had +two bundles gathered, and were ready to go home, +a second stranger came on horseback, much finer +than the first, and asked the weaver would he give +him his daughter.</p> + +<p>"I will not," said the weaver.</p> + +<p>"Well," said the stranger, "I'll give you her<span class="pagenum">[27]</span> +weight in silver if you'll let her go with me;" and +he put the silver down before him.</p> + +<p>The weaver carried home the silver and buried +it in the garden with the gold, and the daughter +went away with the man on horseback.</p> + +<p>When he went again to the wood, the weaver took +his third daughter with him; and when they were +ready to go home, a third man came on horseback, +gave the weight of the third daughter in copper, +and took her away. The weaver buried the copper +with the gold and silver.</p> + +<p>Now, the wife was lamenting and moaning night +and day for her three daughters, and gave the +weaver no rest till he told the whole story.</p> + +<p>Now, a son was born to them; and when the boy +grew up and was going to school, he heard how his +three sisters had been carried away for their weight +in gold and silver and copper; and every day when +he came home he saw how his mother was lamenting +and wandering outside in grief through the +fields and pits and ditches, so he asked her what +trouble was on her; but she wouldn't tell him +a word.</p> + +<p>At last he came home crying from school one +day, and said: "I'll not sleep three nights in one +house till I find my three sisters." Then he said to +his mother: "Make me three loaves of bread, +mother, for I am going on a journey."</p> + +<p>Next day he asked had she the bread ready. She +said she had, and she was crying bitterly all the +time. "I'm going to leave you now, mother," +said he; "and I'll come back when I have found +my three sisters."</p> + +<p>He went away, and walked on till he was tired +and hungry; and then he sat down to eat the bread +that his mother had given him, when a red-haired<span class="pagenum">[28]</span> +man came up and asked him for something to eat. +"Sit down here," said the boy. He sat down, +and the two ate till there was not a crumb of the +bread left.</p> + +<p>The boy told of the journey he was on; then the +red-haired man said: "There may not be much +use in your going, but here are three things that'll +serve you,—the sword of sharpness, the cloth of +plenty, and the cloak of darkness. No man can +kill you while that sword is in your hand; and whenever +you are hungry or dry, all you have to do is +to spread the cloth and ask for what you'd like to +eat or drink, and it will be there before you. When +you put on the cloak, there won't be a man or a +woman or a living thing in the world that'll see +you, and you'll go to whatever place you have set +your mind on quicker than any wind."</p> + +<p>The red-haired man went his way, and the boy +travelled on. Before evening a great shower came, +and he ran for shelter to a large oak-tree. When +he got near the tree his foot slipped, the ground +opened, and down he went through the earth till +he came to another country. When he was in the +other country he put on the cloak of darkness and +went ahead like a blast of wind, and never stopped +till he saw a castle in the distance; and soon he was +there. But he found nine gates closed before him, +and no way to go through. It was written inside +the cloak of darkness that his eldest sister lived in +that castle.</p> + +<p>He was not long at the gate looking in when a +girl came to him and said, "Go on out of that; if +you don't, you'll be killed."</p> + +<p>"Do you go in," said he to the girl, "and tell +my sister, the woman of this castle, to come out to +me."<span class="pagenum">[29]</span> +The girl ran in; out came the sister, and asked: +"Why are you here, and what did you come +for?"</p> + +<p>"I have come to this country to find my three +sisters, who were given away by my father for their +weight in gold, silver, and copper; and you are +my eldest sister."</p> + +<p>She knew from what he said that he was her +brother, so she opened the gates and brought +him in, saying: "Don't wonder at anything you +see in this castle. My husband is enchanted. I +see him only at night. He goes off every morning, +stays away all day, and comes home in the +evening."</p> + +<p>The sun went down; and while they were talking, +the husband rushed in, and the noise of him was +terrible. He came in the form of a ram, ran up +stairs, and soon after came down a man.</p> + +<p>"Who is this that's with you?" asked he of the +wife.</p> + +<p>"Oh! that's my brother, who has come from +Erin to see me," said she.</p> + +<p>Next morning, when the man of the castle was +going off in the form of a ram, he turned to the +boy and asked, "Will you stay a few days in my +castle? You are welcome."</p> + +<p>"Nothing would please me better," said the +boy; "but I have made a vow never to sleep +three nights in one house till I have found my +three sisters."</p> + +<p>"Well," said the ram, "since you must go, here +is something for you." And pulling out a bit of +his own wool, he gave it to the boy, saying: "Keep +this; and whenever a trouble is on you, take it out, +and call on what rams are in the world to help +you."<span class="pagenum">[30]</span> +Away went the ram. The boy took farewell of +his sister, put on the cloak of darkness, and disappeared. +He travelled till hungry and tired, then +he sat down, took off the cloak of darkness, spread +the cloth of plenty, and asked for meat and drink. +After he had eaten and drunk his fill, he took up +the cloth, put on the cloak of darkness, and went +ahead, passing every wind that was before him, and +leaving every wind that was behind.</p> + +<p>About an hour before sunset he saw the castle +in which his second sister lived. When he reached +the gate, a girl came out to him and said: "Go +away from that gate, or you'll be killed."</p> + +<p>"I'll not leave this till my sister who lives in +the castle comes out and speaks to me."</p> + +<p>The girl ran in, and out came the sister. When +she heard his story and his father's name, she knew +that he was her brother, and said: "Come into the +castle, but think nothing of what you'll see or +hear. I don't see my husband from morning till +night. He goes and comes in a strange form, but +he is a man at night."</p> + +<p>About sunset there was a terrible noise, and in +rushed the man of the castle in the form of a tremendous +salmon. He went flapping upstairs; +but he wasn't long there till he came down a fine-looking +man.</p> + +<p>"Who is that with you?" asked he of the wife. +"I thought you would let no one into the castle +while I was gone."</p> + +<p>"Oh! this is my brother, who has come to see +me," said she.</p> + +<p>"If he's your brother, he's welcome," said the +man.</p> + +<p>They supped, and then slept till morning. +When the man of the castle was going out again, in<span class="pagenum">[31]</span> +the form of a great salmon, he turned to the boy +and said: "You'd better stay here with us a +while."</p> + +<p>"I cannot," said the boy. "I made a vow +never to sleep three nights in one house till I had +seen my three sisters. I must go on now and find +my third sister."</p> + +<p>The salmon then took off a piece of his fin and +gave it to the boy, saying: "If any difficulty meets +you, or trouble comes on you, call on what salmons +are in the sea to come and help you."</p> + +<p>They parted. The boy put on his cloak of +darkness, and away he went, more swiftly than any +wind. He never stopped till he was hungry and +thirsty. Then he sat down, took off his cloak +of darkness, spread the cloth of plenty, and ate his +fill; when he had eaten, he went on again till near +sundown, when he saw the castle where his third +sister lived. All three castles were near the sea. +Neither sister knew what place she was in, and +neither knew where the other two were living.</p> + +<p>The third sister took her brother in just as the +first and second had done, telling him not to wonder +at anything he saw.</p> + +<p>They were not long inside when a roaring noise +was heard, and in came the greatest eagle that +ever was seen. The eagle hurried upstairs, and +soon came down a man.</p> + +<p>"Who is that stranger there with you?" asked +he of the wife. (He, as well as the ram and salmon, +knew the boy; he only wanted to try his +wife.)</p> + +<p>"This is my brother, who has come to see me."</p> + +<p>They all took supper and slept that night. +When the eagle was going away in the morning, +he pulled a feather out of his wing, and said to<span class="pagenum">[32]</span> +the boy: "Keep this; it may serve you. If you +are ever in straits and want help, call on what +eagles are in the world, and they'll come to +you."</p> + +<p>There was no hurry now, for the third sister was +found; and the boy went upstairs with her to examine +the country all around, and to look at the +sea. Soon he saw a great white hill, and on the +top of the hill a castle.</p> + +<p>"In that castle on the white hill beyond," said +the sister, "lives a giant, who stole from her home +the most beautiful young woman in the world. +From all parts the greatest heroes and champions +and kings' sons are coming to take her away from +the giant and marry her. There is not a man of +them all who is able to conquer the giant and free +the young woman; but the giant conquers them, +cuts their heads off, and then eats their flesh. +When he has picked the bones clean, he throws +them out; and the whole place around the castle +is white with the bones of the men that the giant +has eaten."</p> + +<p>"I must go," said the boy, "to that castle to +know can I kill the giant and bring away the +young woman."</p> + +<p>So he took leave of his sister, put on the cloak +of darkness, took his sword with him, and was soon +inside the castle. The giant was fighting with +champions outside. When the boy saw the young +woman he took off the cloak of darkness and spoke +to her.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" said she, "what can you do against the +giant? No man has ever come to this castle without +losing his life. The giant kills every man; and no +one has ever come here so big that the giant did +not eat him at one meal." +<span class="pagenum">[33]</span> +</p> + +<p>"And is there no way to kill him?" asked the boy.</p> + +<p>"I think not," said she.</p> + +<p>"Well, if you'll give me something to eat, I'll +stay here; and when the giant comes in, I'll do +my best to kill him. But don't let on that I am +here."</p> + +<p>Then he put on the cloak of darkness, and no +one could see him. When the giant came in, he +had the bodies of two men on his back. He threw +down the bodies and told the young woman to get +them ready for his dinner. Then he snuffed around, +and said: "There's some one here; I smell the +blood of an Erineach."</p> + +<p>"I don't think you do," said the young woman; +"I can't see any one."</p> + +<p>"Neither can I," said the giant; "but I smell a +man."</p> + +<p>With that the boy drew his sword; and when the +giant was struck, he ran in the direction of the blow +to give one back; then he was struck on the +other side.</p> + +<p>They were at one another this way, the giant and +the boy with the cloak of darkness on him, till the +giant had fifty wounds, and was covered with blood. +Every minute he was getting a slash of a sword, +but never could give one back. At last he called +out: "Whoever you are, wait till to-morrow, and +I'll face you then."</p> + +<p>So the fighting stopped; and the young woman +began to cry and lament as if her heart would break +when she saw the state the giant was in. "Oh! +you'll be with me no longer; you'll be killed +now: what can I do alone without you?" and she +tried to please him, and washed his wounds.</p> + +<p>"Don't be afraid," said the giant; "this one, +whoever he is, will not kill me, for there is no man<span class="pagenum">[34]</span> +in the world that can kill me." Then the giant +went to bed, and was well in the morning.</p> + +<p>Next day the giant and the boy began in the +middle of the forenoon, and fought till the middle +of the afternoon. The giant was covered with +wounds, and he had not given one blow to the boy, +and could not see him, for he was always in his +cloak of darkness. So the giant had to ask for rest +till next morning.</p> + +<p>While the young woman was washing and dressing +the wounds of the giant she cried and lamented +all the time, saying: "What'll become of me now? +I'm afraid you'll be killed this time; and how can +I live here without you?"</p> + +<p>"Have no fear for me," said the giant; "I'll put +your mind at rest. In the bottom of the sea is +a chest locked and bound, in that chest is a duck, +in the duck an egg; and I never can be killed unless +some one gets the egg from the duck in the +chest at the bottom of the sea, and rubs it on the +mole that is under my right breast."</p> + +<p>While the giant was telling this to the woman to +put her mind at rest, who should be listening to +the story but the boy in the cloak of darkness. +The minute he heard of the chest in the sea, he +thought of the salmons. So off he hurried to the +seashore, which was not far away. Then he took +out the fin that his eldest sister's husband had given +him, and called on what salmons were in the sea to +bring up the chest with the duck inside, and put it +out on the beach before him.</p> + +<p>He had not long to wait till he saw nothing but +salmon,—the whole sea was covered with them, +moving to land; and they put the chest out on the +beach before him.</p> + +<p>But the chest was locked and strong; how could<span class="pagenum">[35]</span> +he open it? He thought of the rams; and taking +out the lock of wool, said: "I want what rams +are in the world to come and break open this +chest!"</p> + +<p>That minute the rams of the world were running +to the seashore, each with a terrible pair of horns +on him; and soon they battered the chest to splinters. +Out flew the duck, and away she went over +the sea.</p> + +<p>The boy took out the feather, and said: "I want +what eagles are in the world to get me the egg from +that duck."</p> + +<p>That minute the duck was surrounded by the +eagles of the world, and the egg was soon brought +to the boy. He put the feather, the wool, and the +fin in his pocket, put on the cloak of darkness, and +went to the castle on the white hill, and told the +young woman, when she was dressing the wounds +of the giant again, to raise up his arm.</p> + +<p>Next day they fought till the middle of the +afternoon. The giant was almost cut to pieces, and +called for a cessation.</p> + +<p>The young woman hurried to dress the wounds, +and he said: "I see you would help me if you +could: you are not able. But never fear, I shall +not be killed." Then she raised his arm to wash +away the blood, and the boy, who was there in his +cloak of darkness, struck the mole with the egg. +The giant died that minute.</p> + +<p>The boy took the young woman to the castle of +his third sister. Next day he went back for the +treasures of the giant, and there was more gold in +the castle than one horse could draw.</p> + +<p>They spent nine days in the castle of the eagle +with the third sister. Then the boy gave back the +feather, and the two went on till they came to the<span class="pagenum">[36]</span> +castle of the salmon, where they spent nine more +days with the second sister; and he gave back the +fin.</p> + +<p>When they came to the castle of the ram, they +spent fifteen days with the first sister, and had +great feasting and enjoyment. Then the boy gave +back the lock of wool to the ram, and taking farewell +of his sister and her husband, set out for home +with the young woman of the white castle, who was +now his wife, bringing presents from the three +daughters to their father and mother.</p> + +<p>At last they reached the opening near the tree, +came up through the ground, and went on to where +he met the red-haired man. Then he spread the +cloth of plenty, asked for every good meat and +drink, and called the red-haired man. He came. +The three sat down, ate and drank with enjoyment.</p> + +<p>When they had finished, the boy gave back to +the red-haired man the cloak of darkness, the +sword of sharpness, and the cloth of plenty, and +thanked him.</p> + +<p>"You were kind to me," said the red-haired +man; "you gave me of your bread when I asked +for it, and told me where you were going. I took +pity on you; for I knew you never could get what +you wanted unless I helped you. I am the brother +of the eagle, the salmon, and the ram."</p> + +<p>They parted. The boy went home, built a castle +with the treasure of the giant, and lived happily +with his parents and wife. +<span class="pagenum">[37]</span></p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<h2> + <a name="CHAPTER_04" id="CHAPTER_04"></a> + FAIR, BROWN, AND TREMBLING. +</h2> + +<p class="dropcap">KING AEDH CÚRUCHA lived in Tir Conal, +and he had three daughters, whose names +were Fair, Brown, and Trembling.</p> + +<p>Fair and Brown had new dresses, and went to +church every Sunday. Trembling was kept at +home to do the cooking and work. They would +not let her go out of the house at all; for she was +more beautiful than the other two, and they were +in dread she might marry before themselves.</p> + +<p>They carried on in this way for seven years. At +the end of seven years the son of the king of +Omanya<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">3</a> fell in love with the eldest sister.</p> + +<p>One Sunday morning, after the other two had +gone to church, the old henwife came into the +kitchen to Trembling, and said: "It's at church +you ought to be this day, instead of working here +at home."</p> + +<p>"How could I go?" said Trembling. "I have +no clothes good enough to wear at church; and if +my sisters were to see me there, they'd kill me for +going out of the house."</p> + +<p>"I'll give you," said the henwife, "a finer +dress than either of them has ever seen. And now +tell me what dress will you have?"</p> + +<p>"I'll have," said Trembling, "a dress as white +as snow, and green shoes for my feet."</p> + +<p>Then the henwife put on the cloak of darkness,<span class="pagenum">[38]</span> +clipped a piece from the old clothes the young +woman had on, and asked for the whitest robes in +the world and the most beautiful that could be +found, and a pair of green shoes.</p> + +<p>That moment she had the robe and the shoes, +and she brought them to Trembling, who put them +on. When Trembling was dressed and ready, the +henwife said: "I have a honey-bird here to sit on +your right shoulder, and a honey-finger to put on +your left. At the door stands a milk-white mare, +with a golden saddle for you to sit on, and a golden +bridle to hold in your hand."</p> + +<p>Trembling sat on the golden saddle; and when +she was ready to start, the henwife said: "You +must not go inside the door of the church, and the +minute the people rise up at the end of Mass, do +you make off, and ride home as fast as the mare +will carry you."</p> + +<p>When Trembling came to the door of the church +there was no one inside who could get a glimpse +of her but was striving to know who she was; and +when they saw her hurrying away at the end of +Mass, they ran out to overtake her. But no use in +their running; she was away before any man could +come near her. From the minute she left the +church till she got home, she overtook the wind +before her, and outstripped the wind behind.</p> + +<p>She came down at the door, went in, and found +the henwife had dinner ready. She put off the +white robes, and had on her old dress in a +twinkling.</p> + +<p>When the two sisters came home the henwife +asked: "Have you any news to-day from the +church?"</p> + +<p>"We have great news," said they. "We saw a +wonderful, grand lady at the church-door. The<span class="pagenum">[39]</span> +like of the robes she had we have never seen on +woman before. It's little that was thought of our +dresses beside what she had on; and there wasn't +a man at the church, from the king to the beggar, +but was trying to look at her and know who she +was."</p> + +<p>The sisters would give no peace till they had +two dresses like the robes of the strange lady; but +honey-birds and honey-fingers were not to be +found.</p> + +<p>Next Sunday the two sisters went to church again, +and left the youngest at home to cook the dinner.</p> + +<p>After they had gone, the henwife came in and +asked: "Will you go to church to-day?"</p> + +<p>"I would go," said Trembling, "if I could get +the going."</p> + +<p>"What robe will you wear?" asked the henwife.</p> + +<p>"The finest black satin that can be found, and +red shoes for my feet."</p> + +<p>"What color do you want the mare to be?"</p> + +<p>"I want her to be so black and so glossy that I +can see myself in her body."</p> + +<p>The henwife put on the cloak of darkness, and +asked for the robes and the mare. That moment +she had them. When Trembling was dressed, the +henwife put the honey-bird on her right shoulder +and the honey-finger on her left. The saddle on +the mare was silver, and so was the bridle.</p> + +<p>When Trembling sat in the saddle and was going +away, the henwife ordered her strictly not to go +inside the door of the church, but to rush away +as soon as the people rose at the end of Mass, +and hurry home on the mare before any man could +stop her.</p> + +<p>That Sunday the people were more astonished<span class="pagenum">[40]</span> +than ever, and gazed at her more than the first +time; and all they were thinking of was to know +who she was. But they had no chance; for the moment +the people rose at the end of Mass she slipped +from the church, was in the silver saddle, and home +before a man could stop her or talk to her.</p> + +<p>The henwife had the dinner ready. Trembling +took off her satin robe, and had on her old clothes +before her sisters got home.</p> + +<p>"What news have you to-day?" asked the +henwife of the sisters when they came from the +church.</p> + +<p>"Oh, we saw the grand strange lady again! +And it's little that any man could think of our +dresses after looking at the robes of satin that she +had on! And all at church, from high to low, +had their mouths open, gazing at her, and no man +was looking at us."</p> + +<p>The two sisters gave neither rest nor peace +till they got dresses as nearly like the strange +lady's robes as they could find. Of course they +were not so good; for the like of those robes +could not be found in Erin.</p> + +<p>When the third Sunday came, Fair and Brown +went to church dressed in black satin. They left +Trembling at home to work in the kitchen, and +told her to be sure and have dinner ready when +they came back.</p> + +<p>After they had gone and were out of sight, the +henwife came to the kitchen and said: "Well, my +dear, are you for church to-day?"</p> + +<p>"I would go if I had a new dress to wear."</p> + +<p>"I'll get you any dress you ask for. What +dress would you like?" asked the henwife.</p> + +<p>"A dress red as a rose from the waist down, and +white as snow from the waist up; a cape of green<span class="pagenum">[41]</span> +on my shoulders; and a hat on my head with a red, +a white, and a green feather in it; and shoes for my +feet with the toes red, the middle white, and the +backs and heels green."</p> + +<p>The henwife put on the cloak of darkness, +wished for all these things, and had them. When +Trembling was dressed, the henwife put the honey-bird +on her right shoulder and the honey-finger +on her left, and placing the hat on her head, +clipped a few hairs from one lock and a few from +another with her scissors, and that moment the +most beautiful golden hair was flowing down over +the girl's shoulders. Then the henwife asked what +kind of a mare she would ride. She said white, +with blue and gold-colored diamond-shaped spots +all over her body, on her back a saddle of gold, +and on her head a golden bridle.</p> + +<p>The mare stood there before the door, and a +bird sitting between her ears, which began to sing +as soon as Trembling was in the saddle, and never +stopped till she came home from the church.</p> + +<p>The fame of the beautiful strange lady had gone +out through the world, and all the princes and +great men that were in it came to church that +Sunday, each one hoping that it was himself would +have her home with him after Mass.</p> + +<p>The son of the king of Omanya forgot all about +the eldest sister, and remained outside the church, +so as to catch the strange lady before she could +hurry away.</p> + +<p>The church was more crowded than ever before, +and there were three times as many outside. +There was such a throng before the church that +Trembling could only come inside the gate.</p> + +<p>As soon as the people were rising at the end of +Mass, the lady slipped out through the gate, was in<span class="pagenum">[42]</span> +the golden saddle in an instant, and sweeping away +ahead of the wind. But if she was, the prince of +Omanya was at her side, and, seizing her by the +foot, he ran with the mare for thirty perches, and +never let go of the beautiful lady till the shoe was +pulled from her foot, and he was left behind with +it in his hand. She came home as fast as the mare +could carry her, and was thinking all the time that +the henwife would kill her for losing the shoe.</p> + +<p>Seeing her so vexed and so changed in the face, +the old woman asked: "What's the trouble that's +on you now?"</p> + +<p>"Oh! I've lost one of the shoes off my feet," +said Trembling.</p> + +<p>"Don't mind that; don't be vexed," said the henwife; +"maybe it's the best thing that ever happened +to you."</p> + +<p>Then Trembling gave up all the things she had +to the henwife, put on her old clothes, and went +to work in the kitchen. When the sisters came +home, the henwife asked: "Have you any news +from the church?"</p> + +<p>"We have indeed," said they; "for we saw the +grandest sight to-day. The strange lady came +again, in grander array than before. On herself +and the horse she rode were the finest colors of +the world, and between the ears of the horse was +a bird which never stopped singing from the time +she came till she went away. The lady herself is +the most beautiful woman ever seen by man in +Erin."</p> + +<p>After Trembling had disappeared from the +church, the son of the king of Omanya said to the +other kings' sons: "I will have that lady for my +own."</p> + +<p>They all said: "You didn't win her just by taking<span class="pagenum">[43]</span> +the shoe off her foot, you'll have to win her by the +point of the sword; you'll have to fight for her +with us before you can call her your own."</p> + +<p>"Well," said the son of the king of Omanya, +"when I find the lady that shoe will fit, I'll fight for +her, never fear, before I leave her to any of you."</p> + +<p>Then all the kings' sons were uneasy, and +anxious to know who was she that lost the shoe; +and they began to travel all over Erin to know +could they find her. The prince of Omanya and +all the others went in a great company together, +and made the round of Erin; they went everywhere,—north, +south, east, and west. They visited +every place where a woman was to be found, and +left not a house in the kingdom they did not +search, to know could they find the woman the +shoe would fit, not caring whether she was rich or +poor, of high or low degree.</p> + +<p>The prince of Omanya always kept the shoe; and +when the young women saw it, they had great +hopes, for it was of proper size, neither large nor +small, and it would beat any man to know of what +material it was made. One thought it would fit her +if she cut a little from her great toe; and another, +with too short a foot, put something in the tip of her +stocking. But no use, they only spoiled their feet, +and were curing them for months afterwards.</p> + +<p>The two sisters, Fair and Brown, heard that the +princes of the world were looking all over Erin for +the woman that could wear the shoe, and every day +they were talking of trying it on; and one day +Trembling spoke up and said: "Maybe it's my +foot that the shoe will fit."</p> + +<p>"Oh, the breaking of the dog's foot on you! +Why say so when you were at home every +Sunday?"<span class="pagenum">[44]</span> +They were that way waiting, and scolding the +younger sister, till the princes were near the place. +The day they were to come, the sisters put Trembling +in a closet, and locked the door on her. +When the company came to the house, the prince +of Omanya gave the shoe to the sisters. But +though they tried and tried, it would fit neither +of them.</p> + +<p>"Is there any other young woman in the +house?" asked the prince.</p> + +<p>"There is," said Trembling, speaking up in the +closet; "I'm here."</p> + +<p>"Oh! we have her for nothing but to put out the +ashes," said the sisters.</p> + +<p>But the prince and the others wouldn't leave the +house till they had seen her; so the two sisters had +to open the door. When Trembling came out, the +shoe was given to her, and it fitted exactly.</p> + +<p>The prince of Omanya looked at her and said: +"You are the woman the shoe fits, and you are the +woman I took the shoe from."</p> + +<p>Then Trembling spoke up, and said: "Do you +stay here till I return."</p> + +<p>Then she went to the henwife's house. The old +woman put on the cloak of darkness, got everything +for her she had the first Sunday at church, +and put her on the white mare in the same fashion. +Then Trembling rode along the highway to the +front of the house. All who saw her the first time +said: "This is the lady we saw at church."</p> + +<p>Then she went away a second time, and a second +time came back on the black mare in the second +dress which the henwife gave her. All who saw +her the second Sunday said: "That is the lady we +saw at church."<span class="pagenum">[45]</span> +A third time she asked for a short absence, and +soon came back on the third mare and in the third +dress. All who saw her the third time said: +"That is the lady we saw at church." Every man +was satisfied, and knew that she was the woman.</p> + +<p>Then all the princes and great men spoke up, +and said to the son of the king of Omanya: +"You'll have to fight now for her before we let +her go with you."</p> + +<p>"I'm here before you, ready for combat," answered +the prince.</p> + +<p>Then the son of the king of Lochlin stepped +forth. The struggle began, and a terrible struggle +it was. They fought for nine hours; and then the +son of the king of Lochlin stopped, gave up his +claim, and left the field. Next day the son of the +king of Spain fought six hours, and yielded his +claim. On the third day the son of the king of +Nyerfói fought eight hours, and stopped. The +fourth day the son of the king of Greece fought +six hours, and stopped. On the fifth day no more +strange princes wanted to fight; and all the sons +of kings in Erin said they would not fight with a +man of their own land, that the strangers had had +their chance, and as no others came to claim the +woman, she belonged of right to the son of the +king of Omanya.</p> + +<p>The marriage-day was fixed, and the invitations +were sent out. The wedding lasted for a year and +a day. When the wedding was over, the king's son +brought home the bride, and when the time came +a son was born. The young woman sent for her +eldest sister, Fair, to be with her and care for her. +One day, when Trembling was well, and when her +husband was away hunting, the two sisters went out<span class="pagenum">[46]</span> +to walk; and when they came to the sea-side, the +eldest pushed the youngest sister in. A great +whale came and swallowed her.</p> + +<p>The eldest sister came home alone, and the husband +asked, "Where is your sister?"</p> + +<p>"She has gone home to her father in Ballyshannon; +now that I am well, I don't need her."</p> + +<p>"Well," said the husband, looking at her, "I'm +in dread it's my wife that has gone."</p> + +<p>"Oh! no," said she; "it's my sister Fair that's +gone."</p> + +<p>Since the sisters were very much alike, the +prince was in doubt. That night he put his +sword between them, and said: "If you are my +wife, this sword will get warm; if not, it will +stay cold."</p> + +<p>In the morning when he rose up, the sword was +as cold as when he put it there.</p> + +<p>It happened when the two sisters were walking +by the seashore, that a little cowboy was down +by the water minding cattle, and saw Fair push +Trembling into the sea; and next day, when the +tide came in, he saw the whale swim up and throw +her out on the sand. When she was on the sand +she said to the cowboy: "When you go home +in the evening with the cows, tell the master that +my sister Fair pushed me into the sea yesterday; +that a whale swallowed me, and then threw me +out, but will come again and swallow me with +the coming of the next tide; then he'll go out +with the tide, and come again with to-morrow's +tide, and throw me again on the strand. The +whale will cast me out three times. I'm under +the enchantment of this whale, and cannot leave +the beach or escape myself. Unless my husband +saves me before I'm swallowed the fourth<span class="pagenum">[47]</span> +time, I shall be lost. He must come and shoot +the whale with a silver bullet when he turns on the +broad of his back. Under the breast-fin of the +whale is a reddish-brown spot. My husband must +hit him in that spot, for it is the only place in +which he can be killed."</p> + +<p>When the cowboy got home, the eldest sister +gave him a draught of oblivion, and he did not tell.</p> + +<p>Next day he went again to the sea. The whale +came and cast Trembling on shore again. She +asked the boy: "Did you tell the master what I +told you to tell him?"</p> + +<p>"I did not," said he; "I forgot."</p> + +<p>"How did you forget?" asked she.</p> + +<p>"The woman of the house gave me a drink that +made me forget."</p> + +<p>"Well, don't forget telling him this night; and +if she gives you a drink, don't take it from her."</p> + +<p>As soon as the cowboy came home, the eldest +sister offered him a drink. He refused to take it +till he had delivered his message and told all to the +master. The third day the prince went down with +his gun and a silver bullet in it. He was not long +down when the whale came and threw Trembling +upon the beach as the two days before. She had +no power to speak to her husband till he had +killed the whale. Then the whale went out, turned +over once on the broad of his back, and showed +the spot for a moment only. That moment the +prince fired. He had but the one chance, and +a short one at that; but he took it, and hit the +spot, and the whale, mad with pain, made the sea +all around red with blood, and died.</p> + +<p>That minute Trembling was able to speak, and +went home with her husband, who sent word to +her father what the eldest sister had done. The<span class="pagenum">[48]</span> +father came, and told him any death he chose to +give her to give it. The prince told the father he +would leave her life and death with himself. The +father had her put out then on the sea in a barrel, +with provisions in it for seven years.</p> + +<p>In time Trembling had a second child, a daughter. +The prince and she sent the cowboy to school, +and trained him up as one of their own children, +and said: "If the little girl that is born to us now +lives, no other man in the world will get her but +him."</p> + +<p>The cowboy and the prince's daughter lived on +till they were married. The mother said to her +husband: "You could not have saved me from +the whale but for the little cowboy; on that account +I don't grudge him my daughter."</p> + +<p>The son of the king of Omanya and Trembling +had fourteen children, and they lived happily till +the two died of old age. +<span class="pagenum">[49]</span></p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<h2> + <a name="CHAPTER_05" id="CHAPTER_05"></a> + THE KING OF ERIN AND THE QUEEN OF THE LONESOME ISLAND. +</h2> + +<p class="dropcap">THERE was a king in Erin long ago, and this +king went out hunting one day, but saw +nothing till near sunset, when what should come +across him but a black pig.</p> + +<p>"Since I've seen nothing all day but this black +pig, I'll be at her now," said the king; so he put +spurs to his horse and raced after the pig.</p> + +<p>When the pig was on a hill he was in the valley +behind her; when he was on a hill, the pig was in +the valley before him. At last they came to the +sea-side, and the pig rushed out into the deep +water straight from the shore. The king spurred +on his horse and followed the black pig through +the sea till his horse failed under him and was +drowned.</p> + +<p>Then the king swam on himself till he was growing +weak, and said: "It was for the death of me +that the black pig came in my way."</p> + +<p>But he swam on some distance yet, till at last he +saw land. The pig went up on an island; the king +too went on shore, and said to himself: "Oh! it is +for no good that I came here; there is neither +house nor shelter to be seen." But he cheered up +after a while, walked around, and said: "I'm a +useless man if I can't find shelter in some place."</p> + +<p>After going on a short space he saw a great +castle in a valley before him. When he came to +the front of the castle he saw that it had a low door<span class="pagenum">[50]</span> +with a broad threshold all covered with sharp-edged +razors, and a low lintel of long-pointed needles. +The path to the castle was covered with gravel of +gold. The king came up, and went in with a jump +over the razors and under the needles. When inside +he saw a great fire on a broad hearth, and +said to himself, "I'll sit down here, dry my +clothes, and warm my body at this fire."</p> + +<p>As he sat and warmed himself, a table came out +before him with every sort of food and drink, without +his seeing any one bring it.</p> + +<p>"Upon my honor and power," said the king of +Erin, "there is nothing bad in this! I'll eat and +drink my fill."</p> + +<p>Then he fell to, and ate and drank his fill. +When he had grown tired, he looked behind him, +and if he did he saw a fine room, and in it a bed +covered with gold. "Well," said he, "I'll go +back and sleep in that bed a while, I'm so tired."</p> + +<p>He stretched himself on the bed and fell asleep. +In the night he woke up, and felt the presence of a +woman in the room. He reached out his hand +towards her and spoke, but got no answer; she +was silent.</p> + +<p>When morning came, and he made his way out +of the castle, she spread a beautiful garden with +her Druidic spells over the island,—so great that +though he travelled through it all day he could not +escape from it. At sunset he was back at the door +of the castle; and in he went over the razors and +under the needles, sat at the fire, and the table came +out before him as on the previous evening. He ate, +drank, and slept on the bed; and when he woke +in the night, there was the woman in the room; +but she was silent and unseen as before.</p> + +<p>When he went out on the second morning the<span class="pagenum">[51]</span> +king of Erin saw a garden three times more beautiful +than the one of the day before. He travelled +all day, but could not escape,—could not get out +of the garden. At sunset he was back at the door +of the castle; in he went over the razors and under +the needles, ate, drank, and slept, as before.</p> + +<p>In the middle of the night he woke up, and felt the +presence of the woman in the room. "Well," said +he, "it is a wonderful thing for me to pass three +nights in a room with a woman, and not see her +nor know who she is!"</p> + +<p>"You won't have that to say again, king of +Erin," answered a voice. And that moment the +room was filled with a bright light, and the king +looked upon the finest woman he had ever seen. +"Well, king of Erin, you are on Lonesome Island. +I am the black pig that enticed you over the land +and through the sea to this place, and I am queen +of Lonesome Island. My two sisters and I are under +a Druidic spell, and we cannot escape from this +spell till your son and mine shall free us. Now, +king of Erin, I will give you a boat to-morrow morning, +and do you sail away to your own kingdom."</p> + +<p>In the morning she went with him to the seashore +to the boat. The king gave the prow of the +boat to the sea, and its stern to the land; then he +raised the sails, and went his way. The music he +had was the roaring of the wind with the whistling +of eels, and he broke neither oar nor mast till he +landed under his own castle in Erin.</p> + +<p>Three quarters of a year after, the queen of +Lonesome Island gave birth to a son. She reared +him with care from day to day and year to year +till he was a splendid youth. She taught him +the learning of wise men one half of the day, and +warlike exercises with Druidic spells the other half.<span class="pagenum">[52]</span> +One time the young man, the prince of Lonesome +Island, came in from hunting, and found his +mother sobbing and crying.</p> + +<p>"Oh! what has happened to you, mother?" he +asked.</p> + +<p>"My son, great grief has come on me. A +friend of mine is going to be killed to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"Who is he?"</p> + +<p>"The king of Erin. The king of Spain has +come against him with a great army. He wishes +to sweep him and his men from the face of the +earth, and take the kingdom himself."</p> + +<p>"Well, what can we do? If I were there, I'd +help the king of Erin."</p> + +<p>"Since you say that, my son, I'll send you this +very evening. With the power of my Druidic +spells, you'll be in Erin in the morning."</p> + +<p>The prince of Lonesome Island went away that +night, and next morning at the rising of the sun +he drew up his boat under the king's castle in Erin. +He went ashore, and saw the whole land black with +the forces of the king of Spain, who was getting +ready to attack the king of Erin and sweep him +and his men from the face of the earth.</p> + +<p>The prince went straight to the king of Spain, +and said, "I ask one day's truce."</p> + +<p>"You shall have it, my champion," answered +the king of Spain.</p> + +<p>The prince then went to the castle of the king +of Erin, and stayed there that day as a guest. +Next morning early he dressed himself in his +champion's array, and, taking his nine-edged +sword, he went down alone to the king of +Spain, and, standing before him, bade him guard +himself.</p> + +<p>They closed in conflict, the king of Spain with<span class="pagenum">[53]</span> +all his forces on one side, and the prince of +Lonesome Island on the other. They fought an +awful battle that day from sunrise till sunset. +They made soft places hard, and hard places soft; +they made high places low, and low places high; +they brought water out of the centre of hard gray +rocks, and made dry rushes soft in the most distant +parts of Erin till sunset; and when the sun +went down, the king of Spain and his last man +were dead on the field.</p> + +<p>Neither the king of Erin nor his forces took part +in the battle. They had no need, and they had +no chance.</p> + +<p>Now the king of Erin had two sons, who were +such cowards that they hid themselves from fright +during the battle; but their mother told the king +of Erin that her elder son was the man who had +destroyed the king of Spain and all his men.</p> + +<p>There was great rejoicing and a feast at the +castle of the king of Erin. At the end of the feast +the queen said: "I wish to give the last cup to +this stranger who is here as a guest;" and taking +him to an adjoining chamber which had a window +right over the sea, she seated him in the open window +and gave him a cup of drowsiness to drink. +When he had emptied the cup and closed his eyes, +she pushed him out into the darkness.</p> + +<p>The prince of Lonesome Island swam on the +water for four days and nights, till he came to a +rock in the ocean, and there he lived for three +months, eating the seaweeds of the rock, till one +foggy day a vessel came near and the captain cried +out: "We shall be wrecked on this rock!" Then +he said, "There is some one on the rock; go and +see who it is."</p> + +<p>They landed, and found the prince, his clothes all<span class="pagenum">[54]</span> +gone, his body black from the seaweed, which was +growing all over it.</p> + +<p>"Who are you?" asked the captain.</p> + +<p>"Give me first to eat and drink, and then I'll +talk," said he.</p> + +<p>They brought him food and drink; and when he +had eaten and drunk, the prince said to the captain: +"What part of the world have you come +from?"</p> + +<p>"I have just sailed from Lonesome Island," said +the captain. "I was obliged to sail away, for fire +was coming from every side to burn my ship."</p> + +<p>"Would you like to go back?"</p> + +<p>"I should indeed."</p> + +<p>"Well, turn around; you'll have no trouble if I +am with you."</p> + +<p>The captain returned. The queen of Lonesome +Island was standing on the shore as the ship +came in.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my child!" cried she, "why have you been +away so long?"</p> + +<p>"The queen of Erin threw me into the sea after +I had kept the head of the king of Erin on him, +and saved her life too."</p> + +<p>"Well, my son, that will come up against the +queen of Erin on another day."</p> + +<p>Now, the prince lived on Lonesome Island three +years longer, till one time he came home from +hunting, and found his mother wringing her hands +and shedding bitter tears.</p> + +<p>"Oh! what has happened?" asked he.</p> + +<p>"I am weeping because the king of Spain has +gone to take vengeance on the king of Erin for the +death of his father, whom you killed."</p> + +<p>"Well, mother, I'll go to help the king of Erin, +if you give me leave."<span class="pagenum">[55]</span> +</p> + +<p>"Since you have said it, you shall go this very +night."</p> + +<p>He went to the shore. Putting the prow of his +bark to the sea and her stern to land, he raised +high the sails, and heard no sound as he went but +the pleasant wind and the whistling of eels, till he +pulled up his boat next morning under the castle +of the king of Erin and went on shore.</p> + +<p>The whole country was black with the troops of +the king of Spain, who was just ready to attack, +when the prince stood before him, and asked a +truce till next morning.</p> + +<p>"That you shall have, my champion," answered +the king. So there was peace for that day.</p> + +<p>Next morning at sunrise, the prince faced the +king of Spain and his army, and there followed a +struggle more terrible than that with his father; +but at sunset neither the king of Spain nor one of +his men was left alive.</p> + +<p>The two sons of the king of Erin were frightened +almost to death, and hid during the battle, so that +no one saw them or knew where they were. But +when the king of Spain and his army were destroyed, +the queen said to the king: "My elder +son has saved us." Then she went to bed, and +taking the blood of a chicken in her mouth, spat it +out, saying: "This is my heart's blood; and nothing +can cure me now but three bottles of water +from Tubber Tintye, the flaming well."</p> + +<p>When the prince was told of the sickness of +the queen of Erin, he came to her and said: "I'll +go for the water if your two sons will go with me."</p> + +<p>"They shall go," said the queen; and away went +the three young men towards the East, in search of +the flaming well.</p> + +<p>In the morning they came to a house on the<span class="pagenum">[56]</span> +roadside; and going in, they saw a woman who had +washed herself in a golden basin which stood before +her. She was then wetting her head with the +water in the basin, and combing her hair with a +golden comb. She threw back her hair, and looking +at the prince, said: "You are welcome, sister's +son. What is on you? Is it the misfortune of the +world that has brought you here?"</p> + +<p>"It is not; I am going to Tubber Tintye for three +bottles of water."</p> + +<p>"That is what you'll never do; no man can cross +the fiery river or go through the enchantments +around Tubber Tintye. Stay here with me, and +I'll give you all I have."</p> + +<p>"No, I cannot stay, I must go on."</p> + +<p>"Well, you'll be in your other aunt's house to-morrow +night, and she will tell you all."</p> + +<p>Next morning, when they were getting ready to +take the road, the elder son of the queen of Erin +was frightened at what he had heard, and said: +"I am sick; I cannot go farther."</p> + +<p>"Stop here where you are till I come back," +said the prince. Then he went on with the younger +brother, till at sunset they came to a house where +they saw a woman wetting her head from a golden +basin, and combing her hair with a golden comb. +She threw back her hair, looked at the prince, and +said: "You are welcome, sister's son! What +brought you to this place? Was it the misfortune +of the world that brought you to live under Druidic +spells like me and my sisters?" This was the elder +sister of the queen of the Lonesome Island.</p> + +<p>"No," said the prince; "I am going to Tubber +Tintye for three bottles of water from the flaming +well."</p> + +<p>"Oh, sister's son, it's a hard journey you're on!<span class="pagenum">[57]</span> +But stay here to-night; to-morrow morning I'll tell +you all."</p> + +<p>In the morning the prince's aunt said: "The +queen of the Island of Tubber Tintye has an enormous +castle, in which she lives. She has a countless +army of giants, beasts, and monsters to guard the +castle and the flaming well. There are thousands +upon thousands of them, of every form and size. +When they get drowsy, and sleep comes on them, +they sleep for seven years without waking. The +queen has twelve attendant maidens, who live in +twelve chambers. She is in the thirteenth and +innermost chamber herself. The queen and the +maidens sleep during the same seven years as the +giants and beasts. When the seven years are over, +they all wake up, and none of them sleep again for +seven other years. If any man could enter the +castle during the seven years of sleep, he could do +what he liked. But the island on which the castle +stands is girt by a river of fire and surrounded by +a belt of poison-trees."</p> + +<p>The aunt now blew on a horn, and all the birds +of the air gathered around her from every place +under the heavens, and she asked each in turn +where it dwelt, and each told her; but none knew +of the flaming well, till an old eagle said: "I left +Tubber Tintye to-day."</p> + +<p>"How are all the people there?" asked the +aunt.</p> + +<p>"They are all asleep since yesterday morning," +answered the old eagle.</p> + +<p>The aunt dismissed the birds; and turning to the +prince, said, "Here is a bridle for you. Go to +the stables, shake the bridle, and put it on whatever +horse runs out to meet you."</p> + +<p>Now the second son of the queen of Erin said:<span class="pagenum">[58]</span> +"I am too sick to go farther."</p> + +<p>"Well, stay here till I come back," said the +prince, who took the bridle and went out.</p> + +<p>The prince of the Lonesome Island stood in +front of his aunt's stables, shook the bridle, and +out came a dirty, lean little shaggy horse.</p> + +<p>"Sit on my back, son of the king of Erin and +the queen of Lonesome Island," said the little +shaggy horse.</p> + +<p>This was the first the prince had heard of his +father. He had often wondered who he might be, +but had never heard who he was before.</p> + +<p>He mounted the horse, which said: "Keep a +firm grip now, for I shall clear the river of fire at +a single bound, and pass the poison-trees; but if +you touch any part of the trees, even with a thread +of the clothing that's on you, you'll never eat +another bite; and as I rush by the end of the castle +of Tubber Tintye with the speed of the wind, you +must spring from my back through an open window +that is there; and if you don't get in at the +window, you're done for. I'll wait for you outside +till you are ready to go back to Erin."</p> + +<p>The prince did as the little horse told him. +They crossed the river of fire, escaped the touch +of the poison-trees, and as the horse shot past the +castle, the prince sprang through the open window, +and came down safe and sound inside.</p> + +<p>The whole place, enormous in extent, was filled +with sleeping giants and monsters of sea and land,—great +whales, long slippery eels, bears, and +beasts of every form and kind. The prince passed +through them and over them till he came to a +great stairway. At the head of the stairway he +went into a chamber, where he found the most +beautiful woman he had ever seen, stretched on a<span class="pagenum">[59]</span> +couch asleep. "I'll have nothing to say to you," +thought he, and went on to the next; and so he +looked into twelve chambers. In each was a +woman more beautiful than the one before. But +when he reached the thirteenth chamber and +opened the door, the flash of gold took the sight +from his eyes. He stood a while till the sight +came back, and then entered. In the great bright +chamber was a golden couch, resting on wheels of +gold. The wheels turned continually; the couch +went round and round, never stopping night or +day. On the couch lay the queen of Tubber +Tintye; and if her twelve maidens were beautiful, +they would not be beautiful if seen near her. At +the foot of the couch was Tubber Tintye itself,—the +well of fire. There was a golden cover upon the +well, and it went around continually with the couch +of the queen.</p> + +<p>"Upon my word," said the prince, "I'll rest +here a while." And he went up on the couch, +and never left it for six days and nights.</p> + +<p>On the seventh morning he said, "It is time for +me now to leave this place." So he came down +and filled the three bottles with water from the +flaming well. In the golden chamber was a table +of gold, and on the table a leg of mutton with a +loaf of bread; and if all the men in Erin were to +eat for a twelvemonth from the table, the mutton +and the bread would be in the same form after the +eating as before.</p> + +<p>The prince sat down, ate his fill of the loaf and +the leg of mutton, and left them as he had found +them. Then he rose up, took his three bottles, +put them in his wallet, and was leaving the +chamber, when he said to himself: "It would be a +shame to go away without leaving something by<span class="pagenum">[60]</span> +which the queen may know who was here while she +slept." So he wrote a letter, saying that the son of +the king of Erin and the queen of the Lonesome +Island had spent six days and nights in the golden +chamber of Tubber Tintye, had taken away +three bottles of water from the flaming well, and +had eaten from the table of gold. Putting this +letter under the pillow of the queen, he went out, +stood in the open window, sprang on the back of +the lean and shaggy little horse, and passed the +trees and the river unharmed.</p> + +<p>When they were near his aunt's house, the horse +stopped, and said: "Put your hand into my ear, +and draw out of it a Druidic rod; then cut me into +four quarters, and strike each quarter with the +rod. Each one of them will become the son +of a king, for four princes were enchanted and +turned into the lean little shaggy horse that +carried you to Tubber Tintye. When you have +freed the four princes from this form you can +free your two aunts from the spell that is on +them, and take them with you to Lonesome +Island."</p> + +<p>The prince did as the horse desired; and straightway +four princes stood before him, and thanking +him for what he had done, they departed at once, +each to his own kingdom.</p> + +<p>The prince removed the spell from his aunts, +and, travelling with them and the two sons of the +queen of Erin, all soon appeared at the castle of +the king.</p> + +<p>When they were near the door of their mother's +chamber, the elder of the two sons of the queen +of Erin stepped up to the prince of Lonesome +Island, snatched the three bottles from the wallet +that he had at his side, and running up to his<span class="pagenum">[61]</span> +mother's bed, said: "Here, mother, are the three +bottles of water which I brought you from Tubber +Tintye."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, my son; you have saved my life," +said she.</p> + +<p>The prince went on his bark and sailed away +with his aunts to Lonesome Island, where he lived +with his mother seven years.</p> + +<p>When seven years were over, the queen of +Tubber Tintye awoke from her sleep in the golden +chamber; and with her the twelve maidens and all +the giants, beasts, and monsters that slept in the +great castle.</p> + +<p>When the queen opened her eyes, she saw a boy +about six years old playing by himself on the floor. +He was very beautiful and bright, and he had gold +on his forehead and silver on his poll. When she +saw the child, she began to cry and wring her +hands, and said: "Some man has been here while +I slept."</p> + +<p>Straightway she sent for her Seandallglic (old +blind sage), told him about the child, and asked: +"What am I to do now?"</p> + +<p>The old blind sage thought a while, and then +said: "Whoever was here must be a hero; for the +child has gold on his forehead and silver on his +poll, and he never went from this place without +leaving his name behind him. Let search be +made, and we shall know who he was."</p> + +<p>Search was made, and at last they found the +letter of the prince under the pillow of the couch. +The queen was now glad, and proud of the child.</p> + +<p>Next day she assembled all her forces, her +giants and guards; and when she had them drawn +up in line, the army was seven miles long from van +to rear. The queen opened through the river of<span class="pagenum">[62]</span> +fire a safe way for the host, and led it on till she +came to the castle of the king of Erin. She held +all the land near the castle, so the king had the sea +on one side, and the army of the queen of Tubber +Tintye on the other, ready to destroy him and all +that he had. The queen sent a herald for the +king to come down.</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do?" asked the king +when he came to her tent. "I have had trouble +enough in my life already, without having more +of it now."</p> + +<p>"Find for me," said the queen, "the man who +came to my castle and entered the golden chamber +of Tubber Tintye while I slept, or I'll sweep you +and all you have from the face of the earth."</p> + +<p>The king of Erin called down his elder son, and +asked: "Did you enter the chamber of the queen +of Tubber Tintye?"</p> + +<p>"I did."</p> + +<p>"Go, then, and tell her so, and save us."</p> + +<p>He went; and when he told the queen, she said: +"If you entered my chamber, then mount my gray +steed."</p> + +<p>He mounted the steed; and if he did, the steed +rose in the air with a bound, hurled him off his +back, in a moment, threw him on a rock, and dashed +the brains out of his head.</p> + +<p>The king called down his second son, who said +that he had been in the golden chamber. Then he +mounted the gray steed, which killed him as it had +his brother.</p> + +<p>Now the queen called the king again, and said: +"Unless you bring the man who entered my golden +chamber while I slept, I'll not leave a sign +of you or anything you have upon the face of +the earth."<span class="pagenum">[63]</span> +Straightway the king sent a message to the +queen of Lonesome Island, saying: "Come to +me with your son and your two sisters!"</p> + +<p>The queen set out next morning, and at sunset +she drew up her boat under the castle of the king +of Erin. Glad were they to see her at the castle, +for great dread was on all.</p> + +<p>Next morning the king went down to the queen +of Tubber Tintye, who said: "Bring me the man +who entered my castle, or I'll destroy you and all +you have in Erin this day."</p> + +<p>The king went up to the castle; immediately +the prince of Lonesome Island went to the queen.</p> + +<p>"Are you the man who entered my castle?" +asked she.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," said the prince.</p> + +<p>"Go up now on my gray steed!" said the +queen.</p> + +<p>He sat on the gray steed, which rose under him +into the sky. The prince stood on the back of +the horse, and cut three times with his sword as he +went up under the sun. When he came to the +earth again, the queen of Tubber Tintye ran over +to him, put his head on her bosom, and said: +"You are the man."</p> + +<p>Now she called the queen of Erin to her tent, +and drawing from her own pocket a belt of silk, +slender as a cord, she said: "Put this on."</p> + +<p>The queen of Erin put it on, and then the queen +of Tubber Tintye said: "Tighten, belt!" The +belt tightened till the queen of Erin screamed with +pain. "Now tell me," said the queen of Tubber +Tintye, "who was the father of your elder son."</p> + +<p>"The gardener," said the queen of Erin.</p> + +<p>Again the queen of Tubber Tintye said; +"Tighten, belt!" The queen of Erin screamed<span class="pagenum">[64]</span> +worse than before; and she had good reason, for +she was cut nearly in two. "Now tell me who +was the father of your second son."</p> + +<p>"The big brewer," said the queen of Erin.</p> + +<p>Said the queen of Tubber Tintye to the king of +Erin: "Get this woman dead."</p> + +<p>The king put down a big fire then, and when it +was blazing high, he threw the wife in, and she was +destroyed at once.</p> + +<p>"Now do you marry the queen of Lonesome +Island, and my child will be grandchild to you +and to her," said the queen of Tubber Tintye.</p> + +<p>This was done, and the queen of Lonesome +Island became queen of Erin and lived in the +castle by the sea. And the queen of Tubber +Tintye married the prince of Lonesome Island, the +champion who entered the golden chamber while +she slept.</p> + +<p>Now the king of Erin sent ten ships with messages +to all the kings of the world, inviting them +to come to the wedding of the queen of Tubber +Tintye and his son, and to his own wedding with +the queen of Lonesome Island.</p> + +<p>The queen removed the Druidic spells from her +giants, beasts, and monsters; then went home, +and made the prince of Lonesome Island king of +Tubber Tintye and lord of the golden chamber. +<span class="pagenum">[65]</span></p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<h2> + <a name="CHAPTER_06" id="CHAPTER_06"></a> + THE SHEE AN GANNON AND THE GRUAGACH GAIRE. +</h2> + +<p class="dropcap">THE Shee an Gannon<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">4</a> was born in the morning, +named at noon, and went in the evening +to ask his daughter of the king of Erin.</p> + +<p>"I will give you my daughter in marriage," said +the king of Erin; "you won't get her, though, +unless you go and bring me back the tidings that +I want, and tell me what it is that put a stop to +the laughing of the Gruagach Gaire,<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">5</a> who before +this laughed always, and laughed so loud that the +whole world heard him. There are twelve iron +spikes out here in the garden behind my castle. +On eleven of the spikes are the heads of kings' +sons who came seeking my daughter in marriage, +and all of them went away to get the knowledge +I wanted. Not one was able to get it and tell me +what stopped the Gruagach Gaire from laughing. +I took the heads off them all when they came +back without the tidings for which they went, and +I'm greatly in dread that your head'll be on the +twelfth spike, for I'll do the same to you that I did +to the eleven kings' sons unless you tell what put a +stop to the laughing of the Gruagach."</p> + +<p>The Shee an Gannon made no answer, but left +the king and pushed away to know could he find +why the Gruagach was silent.</p> + +<p>He took a glen at a step, a hill at a leap, and<span class="pagenum">[66]</span> +travelled all day till evening. Then he came to a +house. The master of the house asked him what +sort was he, and he said: "A young man looking +for hire."</p> + +<p>"Well," said the master of the house, "I was +going to-morrow to look for a man to mind my +cows. If you'll work for me, you'll have a good +place, the best food a man could have to eat in this +world, and a soft bed to lie on."</p> + +<p>The Shee an Gannon took service, and ate his +supper. Then the master of the house said: "I +am the Gruagach Gaire; now that you are my +man and have eaten your supper, you'll have a +bed of silk to sleep on."</p> + +<p>Next morning after breakfast the Gruagach said +to the Shee an Gannon: "Go out now and loosen +my five golden cows and my bull without horns, +and drive them to pasture; but when you have +them out on the grass, be careful you don't let +them go near the land of the giant."</p> + +<p>The new cowboy drove the cattle to pasture, +and when near the land of the giant, he saw it was +covered with woods and surrounded by a high +wall. He went up, put his back against the wall, +and threw in a great stretch of it; then he went +inside and threw out another great stretch of the +wall, and put the five golden cows and the bull +without horns on the land of the giant.</p> + +<p>Then he climbed a tree, ate the sweet apples +himself, and threw the sour ones down to the +cattle of the Gruagach Gaire.</p> + +<p>Soon a great crashing was heard in the woods,—the +noise of young trees bending, and old trees +breaking. The cowboy looked around, and saw a +five-headed giant pushing through the trees; and +soon he was before him.<span class="pagenum">[67]</span> +"Poor miserable creature!" said the giant; +"but weren't you impudent to come to my land +and trouble me in this way? You're too big for +one bite, and too small for two. I don't know what +to do but tear you to pieces."</p> + +<p>"You nasty brute," said the cowboy, coming +down to him from the tree, "'tis little I care for +you;" and then they went at each other. So great +was the noise between them that there was nothing +in the world but what was looking on and listening +to the combat.</p> + +<p>They fought till late in the afternoon, when the +giant was getting the upper hand; and then the +cowboy thought that if the giant should kill him, +his father and mother would never find him or set +eyes on him again, and he would never get the +daughter of the king of Erin. The heart in his +body grew strong at this thought. He sprang on +the giant, and with the first squeeze and thrust +he put him to his knees in the hard ground, with +the second thrust to his waist, and with the third +to his shoulders.</p> + +<p>"I have you at last; you're done for now!" said +the cowboy. Then he took out his knife, cut the +five heads off the giant, and when he had them off +he cut out the tongues and threw the heads over +the wall.</p> + +<p>Then he put the tongues in his pocket and +drove home the cattle. That evening the Gruagach +couldn't find vessels enough in all his place +to hold the milk of the five golden cows.</p> + +<p>After supper the cowboy would give no talk to +his master, but kept his mind to himself, and went +to the bed of silk to sleep.</p> + +<p>Next morning after breakfast the cowboy drove +out his cattle, and going on farther than the day<span class="pagenum">[68]</span> +before, stopped at a high wall. He put his back +to the wall, threw in a long stretch of it, then went +in and threw out another long stretch of it.</p> + +<p>After that he put the five golden cows and the +bull without horns on the land, and going up on a +tree, ate sweet apples himself, and threw down the +sour ones to the cattle.</p> + +<p>Now the son of the king of Tisean set out from +the king of Erin on the same errand, after asking +for his daughter; and as soon as the cowboy drove +in his cattle on the second day, he came along by +the giant's land, found the five heads of the giant +thrown out by the cowboy the day before, and +picking them up, ran off to the king of Erin and +put them down before him.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you have done good work!" said the king. +"You have won one third of my daughter."</p> + +<p>Soon after the cowboy had begun to eat sweet +apples, and the son of the king of Tisean had run +off with the five heads, there came a great noise +of young trees bending, and old trees breaking, +and presently the cowboy saw a giant larger than +the one he had killed the day before.</p> + +<p>"You miserable little wretch!" cried the giant; +"what brings you here on my land?"</p> + +<p>"You wicked brute!" said the cowboy, "I +don't care for you;" and slipping down from the +tree, he fell upon the giant.</p> + +<p>The fight was fiercer than his first one; but +towards evening, when he was growing faint, the +cowboy remembered that if he should fall, neither +his father nor mother would see him again, and +he would never get the daughter of the king of +Erin.</p> + +<p>This thought gave him strength; and jumping<span class="pagenum">[69]</span> +up, he caught the giant, put him with one thrust +to his knees in the hard earth, with a second to +his waist, with a third to his shoulders, and then +swept the five heads off him and threw them over +the wall, after he had cut out the tongues and put +them in his pocket.</p> + +<p>Leaving the body of the giant, the cowboy +drove home the cattle, and the Gruagach had still +greater trouble in finding vessels for the milk of +the five golden cows.</p> + +<p>After supper the cowboy said not a word, but +went to sleep.</p> + +<p>Next morning he drove the cattle still farther, +and came to green woods and a strong wall. +Putting his back to the wall, he threw in a great +piece of it, and going in, threw out another piece. +Then he drove the five golden cows and the bull +without horns to the land inside, ate sweet apples +himself, and threw down sour ones to the cattle.</p> + +<p>The son of the king of Tisean came and carried +off the heads as on the day before.</p> + +<p>Presently a third giant came crashing through +the woods, and a battle followed more terrible +than the other two.</p> + +<p>Towards evening the giant was gaining the upper +hand, and the cowboy, growing weak, would +have been killed; but the thought of his parents +and the daughter of the king of Erin gave him +strength, and he swept the five heads off the giant, +and threw them over the wall after he had put the +tongues in his pocket.</p> + +<p>Then the cowboy drove home his cattle; and the +Gruagach didn't know what to do with the milk +of the five golden cows, there was so much of it.</p> + +<p>But when the cowboy was on the way home<span class="pagenum">[70]</span> +with the cattle, the son of the king of Tisean came, +took the five heads of the giant, and hurried to the +king of Erin.</p> + +<p>"You have won my daughter now," said the +king of Erin when he saw the heads; "but you'll +not get her unless you tell me what stops the +Gruagach Gaire from laughing."</p> + +<p>On the fourth morning the cowboy rose before +his master, and the first words he said to the Gruagach +were:</p> + +<p>"What keeps you from laughing, you who +used to laugh so loud that the whole world heard +you?"</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry," said the Gruagach, "that the +daughter of the king of Erin sent you here."</p> + +<p>"If you don't tell me of your own will, I'll make +you tell me," said the cowboy; and he put a face +on himself that was terrible to look at, and running +through the house like a madman, could find +nothing that would give pain enough to the Gruagach +but some ropes made of untanned sheepskin +hanging on the wall.</p> + +<p>He took these down, caught the Gruagach, fastened +his two hands behind him, and tied his feet +so that his little toes were whispering to his ears. +When he was in this state the Gruagach said: +"I'll tell you what stopped my laughing if you +set me free."</p> + +<p>So the cowboy unbound him, the two sat down +together, and the Gruagach said:—</p> + +<p>"I lived in this castle here with my twelve sons. +We ate, drank, played cards, and enjoyed ourselves, +till one day when my sons and I were playing, +a wizard hare came rushing in, jumped on +our table, defiled it, and ran away.</p> + +<p>"On another day he came again; but if he did,<span class="pagenum">[71]</span> +we were ready for him, my twelve sons and myself. +As soon as he defiled our table and ran off, +we made after him, and followed him till nightfall, +when he went into a glen. We saw a light before +us. I ran on, and came to a house with a great +apartment, where there was a man with twelve +daughters, and the hare was tied to the side of +the room near the women.</p> + +<p>"There was a large pot over the fire in the +room, and a great stork boiling in the pot. The +man of the house said to me: 'There are bundles +of rushes at the end of the room, go there and sit +down with your men!'</p> + +<p>"He went into the next room and brought out +two pikes, one of wood, the other of iron, and +asked me which of the pikes would I take. I +said, 'I'll take the iron one;' for I thought in my +heart that if an attack should come on me, I could +defend myself better with the iron than the wooden +pike.</p> + +<p>"The man of the house gave me the iron pike, +and the first chance of taking what I could out of +the pot on the point of the pike. I got but a +small piece of the stork, and the man of the house +took all the rest on his wooden pike. We had +to fast that night; and when the man and his +twelve daughters ate the flesh of the stork, they +hurled the bare bones in the faces of my sons and +myself.</p> + +<p>"We had to stop all night that way, beaten on +the faces by the bones of the stork.</p> + +<p>"Next morning, when we were going away, the +man of the house asked me to stay a while; and +going into the next room, he brought out twelve +loops of iron and one of wood, and said to me: +'Put the heads of your twelve sons into the iron<span class="pagenum">[72]</span> +loops, or your own head into the wooden one;' +and I said: 'I'll put the twelve heads of my sons +in the iron loops, and keep my own out of the +wooden one.'</p> + +<p>"He put the iron loops on the necks of my +twelve sons, and put the wooden one on his own +neck. Then he snapped the loops one after +another, till he took the heads off my twelve sons +and threw the heads and bodies out of the house; +but he did nothing to hurt his own neck.</p> + +<p>"When he had killed my sons he took hold of +me and stripped the skin and flesh from the small +of my back down, and when he had done that he +took the skin of a black sheep that had been hanging +on the wall for seven years and clapped it on +my body in place of my own flesh and skin; and +the sheepskin grew on me, and every year since +then I shear myself, and every bit of wool I use +for the stockings that I wear I clip off my own +back."</p> + +<p>When he had said this, the Gruagach showed +the cowboy his back covered with thick black +wool.</p> + +<p>After what he had seen and heard, the cowboy +said: "I know now why you don't laugh, and +small blame to you. But does that hare come +here still to spoil your table?"</p> + +<p>"He does indeed," said the Gruagach.</p> + +<p>Both went to the table to play, and they were +not long playing cards when the hare ran in; and +before they could stop him he was on the table, +and had put it in such a state that they could not +play on it longer if they had wanted to.</p> + +<p>But the cowboy made after the hare, and the +Gruagach after the cowboy, and they ran as fast +as ever their legs could carry them till nightfall;<span class="pagenum">[73]</span> +and when the hare was entering the castle where +the twelve sons of the Gruagach were killed, the +cowboy caught him by the two hind legs and +dashed out his brains against the wall; and the +skull of the hare was knocked into the chief room +of the castle, and fell at the feet of the master of +the place.</p> + +<p>"Who has dared to interfere with my fighting +pet?" screamed he.</p> + +<p>"I," said the cowboy; "and if your pet had +had manners, he might be alive now."</p> + +<p>The cowboy and the Gruagach stood by the fire. +A stork was boiling in the pot, as when the Gruagach +came the first time. The master of the house +went into the next room and brought out an iron +and a wooden pike, and asked the cowboy which +would he choose.</p> + +<p>"I'll take the wooden one," said the cowboy; +"and you may keep the iron one for yourself."</p> + +<p>So he took the wooden one; and going to the +pot, brought out on the pike all the stork except +a small bite, and he and the Gruagach fell to eating, +and they were eating the flesh of the stork all +night. The cowboy and the Gruagach were at +home in the place that time.</p> + +<p>In the morning the master of the house went +into the next room, took down the twelve iron +loops with a wooden one, brought them out, and +asked the cowboy which would he take, the twelve +iron or the one wooden loop.</p> + +<p>"What could I do with the twelve iron ones for +myself or my master? I'll take the wooden one."</p> + +<p>He put it on, and taking the twelve iron loops, +put them on the necks of the twelve daughters of +the house, then snapped the twelve heads off +them, and turning to their father, said: "I'll do<span class="pagenum">[74]</span> +the same thing to you unless you bring the twelve +sons of my master to life, and make them as well +and strong as when you took their heads."</p> + +<p>The master of the house went out and brought +the twelve to life again; and when the Gruagach +saw all his sons alive and as well as ever, he let a +laugh out of himself, and all the Eastern world +heard the laugh.</p> + +<p>Then the cowboy said to the Gruagach: "It's +a bad thing you have done to me, for the daughter +of the king of Erin will be married the day after +your laugh is heard."</p> + +<p>"Oh! then we must be there in time," said the +Gruagach; and they all made away from the place +as fast as ever they could, the cowboy, the Gruagach, +and his twelve sons.</p> + +<p>On the road they came to a woman who was +crying very hard.</p> + +<p>"What is your trouble?" asked the cowboy.</p> + +<p>"You need have no care," said she, "for I will +not tell you."</p> + +<p>"You must tell me," said he, "for I'll help you +out of it."</p> + +<p>"Well," said the woman, "I have three sons, +and they used to play hurley with the three sons +of the king of the Sasenach,<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">6</a> and they were more +than a match for the king's sons. And it was the +rule that the winning side should give three wallops +of their hurleys to the other side; and my sons +were winning every game, and gave such a beating +to the king's sons that they complained to their +father, and the king carried away my sons to +London, and he is going to hang them there +to-day."</p> + +<p>"I'll bring them here this minute," said the +cowboy.<span class="pagenum">[75]</span> +"You have no time," said the Gruagach.</p> + +<p>"Have you tobacco and a pipe?" asked the +cowboy of the Gruagach.</p> + +<p>"I have not," said he.</p> + +<p>"Well, I have," said the cowboy; and putting +his hand in his pocket, he took out tobacco and +a pipe, gave them to the Gruagach, and said: +"I'll be in London and back before you can put +tobacco in this pipe and light it."</p> + +<p>He disappeared, was back from London with +the three boys all safe and well, and gave them +to their mother before the Gruagach could get a +taste of smoke out of the pipe.</p> + +<p>"Now come with us," said the cowboy to the +woman and her sons, "to the wedding of the +daughter of the king of Erin."</p> + +<p>They hurried on; and when within three miles +of the king's castle there was such a throng of +people that no one could go a step ahead. "We +must clear a road through this," said the cowboy.</p> + +<p>"We must indeed," said the Gruagach; and at +it they went, threw the people some on one side +and some on the other, and soon they had an +opening for themselves to the king's castle.</p> + +<p>As they went in, the daughter of the king of +Erin and the son of the king of Tisean were on +their knees just going to be married. The cowboy +drew his hand on the bridegroom, and gave +a blow that sent him spinning till he stopped under +a table at the other side of the room.</p> + +<p>"What scoundrel struck that blow?" asked the +king of Erin.</p> + +<p>"It was I," said the cowboy.</p> + +<p>"What reason had you to strike the man who +won my daughter?"</p> + +<p>"It was I who won your daughter, not he; and +if you don't believe me, the Gruagach Gaire is here<span class="pagenum">[76]</span> +himself. He'll tell you the whole story from beginning +to end, and show you the tongues of the +giants."</p> + +<p>So the Gruagach came up and told the king the +whole story, how the Shee an Gannon had become +his cowboy, had guarded the five golden cows and +the bull without horns, cut off the heads of the five-headed +giants, killed the wizard hare, and brought +his own twelve sons to life. "And then," said the +Gruagach, "he is the only man in the whole world +I have ever told why I stopped laughing, and the +only one who has ever seen my fleece of wool."</p> + +<p>When the king of Erin heard what the Gruagach +said, and saw the tongues of the giants fitted into +the heads, he made the Shee an Gannon kneel +down by his daughter, and they were married on +the spot.</p> + +<p>Then the son of the king of Tisean was thrown +into prison, and the next day they put down a +great fire, and the deceiver was burned to ashes.</p> + +<p>The wedding lasted nine days, and the last day +was better than the first. +<span class="pagenum">[77]</span></p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<h2> + <a name="CHAPTER_07" id="CHAPTER_07"></a> + THE THREE DAUGHTERS OF THE KING OF THE EAST, AND THE SON OF A KING IN ERIN. +</h2> + +<p class="dropcap">THERE was once a king in Erin, and he had +an only son. While this son was a little child +his mother died.</p> + +<p>After a time the king married and had a second +son.</p> + +<p>The two boys grew up together; and as the +elder was far handsomer and better than the +younger, the queen became jealous, and was for +banishing him out of her sight.</p> + +<p>The king's castle stood near the shore of Loch +Erne, and three swans came every day to be in +the water and swim in the lake. The elder brother +used to go fishing; and once when he sat at the +side of the water, the three swans made young +women of themselves, came to where he sat, and +talked to the king's son.</p> + +<p>The queen had a boy minding cows in the place, +and when he went home that night he told about +what he had seen,—that there were three young +women at the lake, and the king's son was talking +to the three that day. Next morning the queen +called the cowboy to her, and said: "Here is a +pin of slumber; and do you stick it in the clothes +of the king's son before the young women come, +and when they go away, take out the pin and bring +it back to me."</p> + +<p>That day when the cowboy saw the three young<span class="pagenum">[78]</span> +women coming, he went near and threw the pin, +which stuck in the clothes of the king's son. That +instant he fell asleep on the ground.</p> + +<p>When the young women came, one of them took +a towel, dipped it in the cold water of the lake, +and rubbed his face; but she could not rouse him. +When their time came to go, they were crying and +lamenting because the young man was asleep; and +one of the three put a gold pin in his bosom, so +that when he woke up he would find it and keep +her in mind.</p> + +<p>After they had gone a couple of hours, the cowboy +came up, took out the sleeping-pin, and hurried +off. The king's son woke up without delay; +and finding the gold pin in his bosom, he knew +the young woman had come to see him.</p> + +<p>Next day he fished and waited again. When +the cowboy saw the young women coming out of +the lake, he stole up a second time, and threw the +pin, which stuck in his clothes, and that moment +he was drowsy and fell asleep. When the young +women came he was lying on the ground asleep. +One of them rubbed him with a towel dipped in +the water of the lake; but no matter what she did, +he slept on, and when they had to go, she put a +gold ring in his bosom. When the sisters were +leaving the lake, and had put on their swan-skins +and become swans, they all flew around him and +flapped their wings in his face to know could they +rouse him; but there was no use in trying.</p> + +<p>After they had gone, the cowboy came and took +out the sleeping-pin. When the king's son was +awake he put his hand in his bosom, found the +keepsake, and knew that the sisters had come +to him.</p> + +<p>When he went fishing the third day, he called up<span class="pagenum">[79]</span> +the cowboy and said: "I fall asleep every day. I +know something is done to me. Now do you tell +me all. In time I'll reward you well. I know my +stepmother sends something by you that takes my +senses away."</p> + +<p>"I would tell," said the cowboy, "but I'm in +dread my mistress might kill or banish me."</p> + +<p>"She will not, for I'll put you in the way she'll +not harm you. You see my fishing-bag here? +Now throw the pin, which I know you have, +towards me, and hit the bag."</p> + +<p>The cowboy did as he was told, and threw the +pin into the fishing-bag, where it remained without +harm to any one. The cowboy went back to his +cattle, and the prince fished on as before. The +three swans were out in the middle of the lake +swimming around for themselves in the water, and +the prince moved on, fishing, till he came to a +bend in the shore. On one side of him a tongue +of land ran out into the lake. The swans came to +the shore, leaving the piece of land between themselves +and the prince. Then they took off their swan-skins, +were young women, and bathed in the lake.</p> + +<p>After that they came out, put on the dress of +young women, and went to where the king's son +was fishing.</p> + +<p>He spoke to them, and asked where were they +from, in what place were they born, and why were +they swans.</p> + +<p>They said: "We are three sisters, daughters of +the king of the East, and we have two brothers. +Our mother died, and our father married again, +and had two other daughters; and these two are +not so good looking nor so well favored as we, and +their mother was in dread they wouldn't get such +fine husbands as we, so she enchanted us, and now<span class="pagenum">[80]</span> +we are going about the world from lake to lake in +the form of swans."</p> + +<p>Then the eldest of the three sisters said to the +king's son: "What kind are you, and where were +you born?"</p> + +<p>"I was born in Erin," said he; "and when I was +a little boy my mother died, my father married +again and had a second son, and that son wasn't +to the eye what I was, and my stepmother was for +banishing me from my father's house because she +thought her own son was not so good as I was, and +I am fishing here every day by the lake to keep +out of her sight."</p> + +<p>"Well," said the eldest sister, "I thought you +were a king's son, and so I came to you in my +own form to know could we go on in the world +together."</p> + +<p>"I don't know yet what to do," said the king's +son.</p> + +<p>"Well, be sure of your mind to-morrow, for that +will be the last day for me here."</p> + +<p>When the cowboy was going home, the king's +son gave him the sleeping-pin for the stepmother. +When he had driven in the cattle, the cowboy told +the queen that the young man had fallen asleep as +on the two other days.</p> + +<p>But there was an old witch in the place who +was wandering about the lake that day. She saw +everything, went to the queen, and told her how +the three swans had made young women of themselves, +and talked with her stepson.</p> + +<p>When the queen heard the old witch, she fell +into a terrible rage at the cowboy for telling her +a lie, and banished him out of her sight forever. +Then she got another cowboy, and sent him off +with the sleeping-pin next day. When he came<span class="pagenum">[81]</span> +near the lake, the king's son tried to drive him off; +but the cowboy threw the sleeping-pin into his +clothes, and he fell down near the edge of the +water without sight or sense.</p> + +<p>The three sisters came, and found him sleeping. +They rubbed him, and threw water on his face, but +they could not wake him. And the three were lamenting +sorely, for they had brought a swan's +skin with them that day, so the king's son might +make a swan of himself and fly away with them, +for this was their last day at that place; but they +could do nothing now, for he lay there dead asleep +on the ground before them.</p> + +<p>The eldest sister pulled out her handkerchief, +and the falling tears dropped on it. Then she +took a knife, and cut one of the nipples from her +breast. The second sister wrote on the handkerchief: +"Keep this in mind till you get more account +from us." They put it in his bosom and +went away.</p> + +<p>As soon as the sisters had gone, the cowboy +came, drew out the pin, and hurried away. The +stepmother was always trying to banish the king's +son, hoping that something might happen to him, +and her own son be the heir. So now he went off +and wandered away through Erin, always inquiring +for the eldest sister, but never could find +her.</p> + +<p>At the end of seven years he came home, and +was fishing at the side of Loch Erne again, when +a swan flew up to him and said: "Your love is +lying on her death-bed, unless you go to save her. +She is bleeding from the breast, and you must go +to her now. Go straight to the East!"</p> + +<p>The king's son went straight to the East, and on +the way there rose up storm and fog against him;<span class="pagenum">[82]</span> +but they did not stop him. He was going on always, +and when he was three weeks' journey from +his father's castle he stumbled one dark, misty day +and fell over a ditch. When he rose up there +stood on the other side of the ditch before him a +little horse, all bridled and saddled, with a whip on +the saddle. The horse spoke up and said: "If you +are the king's son, I was sent here to meet you, and +carry you to the castle of the king of the East. +There is a young woman at the castle who thinks +it long till she sees you. Now ask me no questions, +for I'm not at liberty to talk to you till I +bring you to the East."</p> + +<p>"I suppose we are to be a long time going?" +said the king's son.</p> + +<p>"Don't trouble yourself about the going; I'll +take you safely. Sit on my back now, and be sure +you're a good rider, and you'll not be long on the +road. This is my last word."</p> + +<p>They went on, and were going always; and as +he travelled, the prince met the wind that was before +him, and the wind that blew behind could not +come up with him. When he was hungry the +pommel of the saddle opened, and he found the +best of eating inside.</p> + +<p>They went on sweeping over the world for two +weeks, and when they were near the East the horse +said: "Get down from my back now, for it's tired +I am."</p> + +<p>"How far are we from the castle?" asked the +king's son.</p> + +<p>"Five days' journey," answered the horse. +"When you come to the castle, don't stop a moment +till you ask where the young woman is +lying; and tell them to be sure to give good stabling +and food to the horse. Come and see me<span class="pagenum">[83]</span> +yourself every day. If you don't, there will be +nothing for me but fasting; and that's what I don't +like."</p> + +<p>When the king's son came to the castle it was +evening. The two younger sisters welcomed him. +(These were two of the swans at the lake in Erin, +and now at home by the enchantment of their stepmother. +They were swans in the daytime, and +women only at night, so as not to be under the +eye of young men when these came to see the +stepmother's own daughters.) They said: "Our +sister is on an island, and we'll go to her." They +got a boat for the young man, and went with him +to where their sister was lying. They said to her: +"The son of the king of Erin is here."</p> + +<p>"Let him come in, that I may look at him," +said she.</p> + +<p>The king's son went in, and when she saw him +she was glad. "Have you anything that belongs +to me?" asked she.</p> + +<p>"I have."</p> + +<p>"Then throw it on my breast."</p> + +<p>He threw the handkerchief on her breast and +went away. Next day she rose from the bed as +well as ever. On the third day after his arrival, +the son of the king of Erin married the eldest +daughter of the king of the East, and the stepmother's +enchantment was destroyed; and there +was the grandest wedding that ever was seen in +that kingdom.</p> + +<p>The king's son, thinking only of his bride, forgot +all about the horse that had brought him over +the long road. When at last he went to see him, +the stable was empty; the horse had gone. And +neither his father in Erin nor the stepmother came +to his mind, he was living so pleasantly in the East.<span class="pagenum">[84]</span> +But after he had been there a long time, and a +son and a daughter had been born to him, he remembered +his father. Then he made up his mind +not to let the stepmother's son be heir to the kingdom +in place of himself. So taking his wife and +children, he left the East and travelled to Erin. +He stopped on the road, and sent word to the +father that he was coming.</p> + +<p>When the stepmother heard the news, a great +weakness came on her. She fell into a fit and +died.</p> + +<p>The king's son waited in a convenient place till +the funeral was over, and then he came to the castle +and lived with his father. He was not long in the +place when he sent messengers to know could they +find the cowboy that the stepmother banished for +telling about the sleeping-pin. They brought the +cowboy to the castle, and the king made him his +coachman.</p> + +<p>The cowboy was not twelve months in his new +place before he married. Then the king's son +gave him a fine piece of land to live on, with six +cows and four horses. There was not a happier +man in the kingdom than the cowboy. When the +father died, the king's son became king in Erin +himself. +<span class="pagenum">[85]</span></p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<h2> + <a name="CHAPTER_08" id="CHAPTER_08"></a> + THE FISHERMAN'S SON AND THE GRUAGACH OF TRICKS. +</h2> + +<p class="dropcap">THERE was an old fisherman once in Erin who +had a wife and one son.</p> + +<p>The old fisherman used to go about with a +fishing-rod and tackle to the rivers and lochs and +every place where fish resort, and he was killing +salmon and other fish to keep the life in himself +and his wife and son.</p> + +<p>The son was not so keen nor so wise as another, +and the father was instructing him every day in +fishing, so that if himself should be taken from +the world, the son would be able to support the +old mother and get his own living.</p> + +<p>One day when the father and son were fishing +in a river near the sea, they looked out over the +water and saw a small dark speck on the waves. +It grew larger and larger, till they saw a boat, and +when the boat drew near they saw a man sitting in +the stern of it.</p> + +<p>There was a nice beach near the place where +they were fishing. The man brought the boat +straight to the beach, and stepping out drew it +up on the sand.</p> + +<p>They saw then that the stranger was a man of +high degree (<i>duine uasal</i>).</p> + +<p>After he had put the boat high on the sand, he +came to where the two were at work, and said: +"Old fisherman, you'd better let this son of +yours with me for a year and a day, and I will<span class="pagenum">[86]</span> +make a very wise man of him. I am the Gruagach +na g-cleasan<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">7</a> (Gruagach of tricks), and I'll bind +myself to be here with your son this day year."</p> + +<p>"I can't let him go," said the old fisherman, +"till he gets his mother's advice."</p> + +<p>"Whatever goes as far as women I'll have nothing +to do with," said the Gruagach. "You had +better give him to me now, and let the mother +alone."</p> + +<p>They talked till at last the fisherman promised +to let his son go for the year and a day. Then +the Gruagach gave his word to have the boy there +at the seashore that day year.</p> + +<p>The Gruagach and the boy went into the boat +and sailed away.</p> + +<p>When the year and a day were over, the old +fisherman went to the same place where he had +parted with his son and the Gruagach, and stood +looking over the sea, thinking would he see his +son that day.</p> + +<p>At last he saw a black spot on the water, then +a boat. When it was near he saw two men sitting +in the stern of the boat. When it touched land, +the two, who were <i>duine uasal</i> in appearance, +jumped out, and one of them pulled the boat to +the top of the strand. Then that one, followed by +the other, came to where the old fisherman was +waiting, and asked: "What trouble is on you now, +my good man?"</p> + +<p>"I had a son that wasn't so keen nor so wise as +another, and myself and this son were here fishing, +and a stranger came, like yourself to-day, and +asked would I let my son with him for a year and +a day. I let the son go, and the man promised to +be here with him to-day, and that's why I am +waiting at this place now."<span class="pagenum">[87]</span> +"Well," said the Gruagach, "am I your son?"</p> + +<p>"You are not," said the fisherman.</p> + +<p>"Is this man here your son?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know him," said the fisherman.</p> + +<p>"Well, then, he is all you will have in place of +your son," said the Gruagach.</p> + +<p>The old man looked again, and knew his son. +He caught hold of him and welcomed him home.</p> + +<p>"Now," said the Gruagach, "isn't he a better +man than he was a year ago?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, he's nearly a smart man now!" said the +old fisherman.</p> + +<p>"Well," said the Gruagach, "will you let him +with me for another year and a day?"</p> + +<p>"I will not," said the old man; "I want him +myself."</p> + +<p>The Gruagach then begged and craved till the +fisherman promised to let the son with him for a +year and a day again. But the old man forgot to +take his word of the Gruagach to bring back the +son at the end of the time; and when the Gruagach +and the boy were in the boat, and had pushed +out to sea, the Gruagach shouted to the old man: +"I kept my promise to bring back your son to-day. +I haven't given you my word at all now. +I'll not bring him back, and you'll never see him +again."</p> + +<p>The fisherman went home with a heavy and +sorrowful heart, and the old woman scolded him +all that night till next morning for letting her son +go with the Gruagach a second time.</p> + +<p>Then himself and the old woman were lamenting +a quarter of a year; and when another quarter +had passed, he said to her: "I'll leave you here +now, and I'll be walking on myself till I wear my +legs off up to my knees, and from my knees to +my waist, till I find where is my son."<span class="pagenum">[88]</span> +So away went the old man walking, and he used +to spend but one night in a house, and not two +nights in any house, till his feet were all in blisters. +One evening late he came to a hut where there +was an old woman sitting at a fire.</p> + +<p>"Poor man!" said she, when she laid eyes on +him, "it's a great distress you are in, to be so +disfigured with wounds and sores. What is the +trouble that's on you?"</p> + +<p>"I had a son," said the old man, "and the Gruagach +na g-cleasan came on a day and took him +from me."</p> + +<p>"Oh, poor man!" said she. "I have a son with +that same Gruagach these twelve years, and I have +never been able to get him back or get sight of +him, and I'm in dread you'll not be able to get +your son either. But to-morrow, in the morning, +I'll tell you all I know, and show you the road +you must go to find the house of the Gruagach +na g-cleasan."</p> + +<p>Next morning she showed the old fisherman the +road. He was to come to the place by evening.</p> + +<p>When he came and entered the house, the +Gruagach shook hands with him, and said: "You +are welcome, old fisherman. It was I that put +this journey on you, and made you come here +looking for your son."</p> + +<p>"It was no one else but you," said the fisherman.</p> + +<p>"Well," said the Gruagach, "you won't see +your son to-day. At noon to-morrow I'll put a +whistle in my mouth and call together all the birds +in my place, and they'll come. Among others +will be twelve doves. I'll put my hand in my +pocket, this way, and take out wheat and throw it +before them on the ground. The doves will eat +the wheat, and you must pick your son out of the<span class="pagenum">[89]</span> +twelve. If you find him, you'll have him; if you +don't, you'll never get him again."</p> + +<p>After the Gruagach had said these words the +old man ate his supper and went to bed.</p> + +<p>In the dead of night the old fisherman's son +came. "Oh, father!" said he, "it would be hard +for you to pick me out among the twelve doves, +if you had to do it alone; but I'll tell you. +When the Gruagach calls us in, and we go to +pick up the wheat, I'll make a ring around the +others, walking for myself; and as I go I'll give +some of them a tip of my bill, and I'll lift my +wings when I'm striking them. There was a spot +under one of my arms when I left home, and +you'll see that spot under my wing when I raise +it to-morrow. Don't miss the bird that I'll be, +and don't let your eyes off it; if you do, you'll +lose me forever."</p> + +<p>Next morning the old man rose, had his breakfast, +and kept thinking of what his son had told +him.</p> + +<p>At midday the Gruagach took his whistle and +blew. Birds came to him from every part, and +among others the twelve doves.</p> + +<p>He took wheat from his pocket, threw it to the +doves, and said to the father: "Now pick out your +son from the twelve."</p> + +<p>The old man was watching, and soon he saw +one of the doves walking around the other eleven +and hitting some of them a clip of its bill, and +then it raised its wings, and the old man saw the +spot. The bird let its wings down again, and went +to eating with the rest.</p> + +<p>The father never let his eyes off the bird. After +a while he said to the Gruagach: "I'll have that +bird there for my son."<span class="pagenum">[90]</span> +"Well," said the Gruagach, "that is your son. +I can't blame you for having him; but I blame +your instructor for the information he gave you, +and I give him my curse."</p> + +<p>So the old fisherman got his son back in his +proper shape, and away they went, father and son, +from the house of the Gruagach. The old man +felt stronger now, and they never stopped travelling +a day till they came home.</p> + +<p>The old mother was very glad to see her son, +and see him such a wise, smart man.</p> + +<p>After coming home they had no means but the +fishing; they were as poor as ever before.</p> + +<p>At this time it was given out at every crossroad +in Erin, and in all public places in the kingdom, +that there were to be great horse-races. Now, +when the day came, the old fisherman's son said:</p> + +<p>"Come away with me, father, to the races."</p> + +<p>The old man went with him, and when they +were near the race-course, the son said:</p> + +<p>"Stop here till I tell you this: I'll make myself into the +best horse that's here to-day, and do you take me +to the place where the races are to be, and when +you take me in, I'll open my mouth, trying to kill +and eat every man that'll be near me, I'll have +such life and swiftness; and do you find a rider +for me that'll ride me, and don't let me go till the +other horses are far ahead on the course. Then +let me go. I'll come up to them, and I'll run +ahead of them and win the race. After that every +rich man there will want to buy me of you; but +don't you sell me to any man for less than five +hundred pounds; and be sure you get that price +for me. And when you have the gold, and you +are giving me up, take the bit out of my mouth, +and don't sell the bridle for any money. Then<span class="pagenum">[91]</span> +come to this spot, shake the bridle, and I'll be +here in my own form before you."</p> + +<p>The son made himself a horse, and the old +fisherman took him to the race. He reared and +snorted, trying to take the head off every man that +came near him.</p> + +<p>The old man shouted for a rider. A rider +came; he mounted the horse and held him in. +The old man didn't let him start till the other +horses were well ahead on the course; then he let +him go.</p> + +<p>The new horse caught up with the others and +shot past them. So they had not gone half way +when he was in at the winning-post.</p> + +<p>When the race was ended, there was a great noise +over the strange horse. Men crowded around the +old fisherman from every corner of the field, asking +what would he take for the horse.</p> + +<p>"Five hundred pounds," said he.</p> + +<p>"Here 'tis for you," said the next man to him.</p> + +<p>In a moment the horse was sold, and the money +in the old man's pocket. Then he pulled the +bridle off the horse's head, and made his way out +of the place as fast as ever he could.</p> + +<p>It was not long till he was at the spot where the +son had told him what to do. The minute he +came, he shook the bridle, and the son was there +before him in his own shape and features.</p> + +<p>Oh, but the old fisherman was glad when he +had his son with him again, and the money in his +pocket!</p> + +<p>The two went home together. They had money +enough now to live, and quit the fishing. They +had plenty to eat and drink, and they spent their +lives in ease and comfort till the next year, when +it was given out at all the cross-roads in Erin, and<span class="pagenum">[92]</span> +every public place in the kingdom, that there was +to be a great hunting with hounds, in the same +place where the races had been the year before.</p> + +<p>When the day came, the fisherman's son said: +"Come, father, let us go away to this hunting."</p> + +<p>"Ah!" said the old man, "what do we want to +go for? Haven't we plenty to eat at home, with +money enough and to spare? What do we care +for hunting with hounds?"</p> + +<p>"Oh! they'll give us more money," said the +son, "if we go."</p> + +<p>The fisherman listened to his son, and away they +went. When the two came to the spot where the +son had made a horse of himself the year before, +he stopped, and said to the father: "I'll make a +hound of myself to-day, and when you bring me +in sight of the game, you'll see me wild with +jumping and trying to get away; but do you +hold me fast till the right time comes, then let go. +I'll sweep ahead of every hound in the field, catch +the game, and win the prize for you.</p> + +<p>"When the hunt is over, so many men will come +to buy me that they'll put you in a maze; but be +sure you get three hundred pounds for me, and +when you have the money, and are giving me +up, don't forget to keep my rope. Come to this +place, shake the rope, and I'll be here before you, +as I am now. If you don't keep the rope, you'll +go home without me."</p> + +<p>The son made a hound of himself, and the old +father took him to the hunting-ground.</p> + +<p>When the hunt began, the hound was springing +and jumping like mad; but the father held him +till the others were far out in the field. Then he +let him loose, and away went the son.</p> + +<p>Soon he was up with the pack, then in front of<span class="pagenum">[93]</span> +the pack, and never stopped till he caught the +game and won the prize.</p> + +<p>When the hunt was over, and the dogs and +game brought in, all the people crowded around +the old fisherman, saying: "What do you want of +that hound? Better sell him; he's no good to +you."</p> + +<p>They put the old man in a maze, there were so +many of them, and they pressed him so hard.</p> + +<p>He said at last: "I'll sell the hound; and three +hundred pounds is the price I want for him."</p> + +<p>"Here 'tis for you," said a stranger, putting the +money into his hand.</p> + +<p>The old man took the money and gave up the +dog, without taking off the rope. He forgot his +son's warning.</p> + +<p>That minute the Gruagach na g-cleasan called +out: "I'll take the worth of my money out of +your son now;" and away he went with the +hound.</p> + +<p>The old man walked home alone that night, and +it is a heavy heart he had in him when he came to +the old woman without the son. And the two +were lamenting their lot till morning.</p> + +<p>Still and all, they were better off than the first +time they lost their son, as they had plenty of +everything, and could live at their ease.</p> + +<p>The Gruagach went away home, and put the +fisherman's son in a cave of concealment that he +had, bound him hand and foot, and tied hard +knots on his neck up to the chin. From above +there fell on him drops of poison, and every drop +that fell went from the skin to the flesh, from +the flesh to the bone, from the bone to the marrow, +and he sat there under the poison drops, without +meat, drink, or rest.<span class="pagenum">[94]</span> +</p> + +<p>In the Gruagach's house was a servant-maid, +and the fisherman's son had been kind to her the +time he was in the place before.</p> + +<p>On a day when the Gruagach and his eleven +sons were out hunting, the maid was going with a +tub of dirty water to throw it into the river that +ran by the side of the house. She went through +the cave of concealment where the fisherman's son +was bound, and he asked of her the wetting of his +mouth from the tub.</p> + +<p>"Oh! the Gruagach would take the life of me," +said she, "when he comes home, if I gave you as +much as one drop."</p> + +<p>"Well," said he, "when I was in this house before, +and when I had power in my hands, it's good +and kind I was to you; and when I get out of this +confinement I'll do you a turn, if you give me the +wetting of my mouth now."</p> + +<p>The maid put the tub near his lips.</p> + +<p>"Oh! I can't stoop to drink unless you untie one +knot from my throat," said he.</p> + +<p>Then she put the tub down, stooped to him, +and loosed one knot from his throat. When she +loosed the one knot he made an eel of himself, +and dropped into the tub. There he began shaking +the water, till he put some of it on the ground, +and when he had the place about him wet, he +sprang from the tub, and slipped along out under +the door. The maid caught him; but could not +hold him, he was so slippery. He made his way +from the door to the river, which ran near the side +of the house.</p> + +<p>When the Gruagach na g-cleasan came home +in the evening with his eleven sons, they went to +take a look at the fisherman's son; but he was not +to be seen.<span class="pagenum">[95]</span> +Then the Gruagach called the maid, and taking +his sword, said: "I'll take the head off you if you +don't tell me this minute what happened while I +was gone."</p> + +<p>"Oh!" said the maid, "he begged so hard for +a drop of dirty water to wet his mouth that I +hadn't the heart to refuse, for 'tis good he was to +me and kind each time he saw me when he was +here in the house before. When the water touched +his mouth, he made an eel of himself, spilled water +out of the tub, and slipped along over the wet +place to the river outside. I caught him to bring +him back, but I couldn't hold him; in spite of all +I could do, he made away."</p> + +<p>The Gruagach dropped his sword, and went to +the water side with his sons.</p> + +<p>The sons made eleven eels of themselves, and +the Gruagach their father was the twelfth. They +went around in the water, searching in every place, +and there was not a stone in the river that they +passed without looking under and around it for +the old fisherman's son.</p> + +<p>And when he knew that they were after him, +he made himself into a salmon; and when they +knew he was a salmon, the sons made eleven otters +of themselves, and the Gruagach made himself the +twelfth.</p> + +<p>When the fisherman's son found that twelve otters +were after him, he was weak with hunger, and when +they had come near, he made himself a whale. But +the eleven brothers and their father made twelve +cannon whales of themselves, for they had all gone +out of the river, and were in the sea now.</p> + +<p>When they were coming near him, the fisherman's +son was weak from pursuit and hunger, so +he jumped up out of the water, and made a swallow<span class="pagenum">[96]</span> +of himself; but the Gruagach and his sons +became twelve hawks, and chased the swallow +through the air; and as they whirled round and +darted, they pressed him hard, till all of them came +near the castle of the king of Erin.</p> + +<p>Now the king had made a summer-house for his +daughter; and where should she be at this time +but sitting on the top of the summer-house.</p> + +<p>The old fisherman's son dropped down till he +was near her; then he fell into her lap in the form +of a ring. The daughter of the king of Erin +took up the ring, looked at it, and put it on her +finger. The ring took her fancy, and she was +glad.</p> + +<p>When the Gruagach and his sons saw this, they +let themselves down at the king's castle, having +the form of the finest men that could be seen in +the kingdom.</p> + +<p>When the king's daughter had the ring on her +finger she looked at it and liked it. Then the +ring spoke, and said: "My life is in your hands +now; don't part from the ring, and don't let it go +to any man, and you'll give me a long life."</p> + +<p>The Gruagach na g-cleasan and his eleven sons +went into the king's castle and played on every +instrument known to man, and they showed every +sport that could be shown before a king. This +they did for three days and three nights. When +that time was over, and they were going away, the +king spoke up and asked:</p> + +<p>"What is the reward that you would like, and +what would be pleasing to you from me?"</p> + +<p>"We want neither gold nor silver," said the +Gruagach; "all the reward we ask of you is the +ring that I lost on a time, and which is now on +your daughter's finger."<span class="pagenum">[97]</span> +"If my daughter has the ring that you lost, it +shall be given to you," said the king.</p> + +<p>Now the ring spoke to the king's daughter and +said: "Don't part with me for anything till you +send your trusted man for three gallons of strong +spirits and a gallon of wheat; put the spirits and +the wheat together in an open barrel before the +fire. When your father says you must give up +the ring, do you answer back that you have never +left the summer-house, that you have nothing on +your hand but what is your own and paid for. +Your father will say then that you must part with +me, and give me up to the stranger. When he +forces you in this way, and you can keep me no +longer, then throw me into the fire; and you'll see +great sport and strange things."</p> + +<p>The king's daughter sent for the spirits and the +wheat, had them mixed together, and put in an +open barrel before the fire.</p> + +<p>The king called the daughter in, and asked: +"Have you the ring which this stranger lost?"</p> + +<p>"I have a ring," said she, "but it's my own, +and I'll not part with it. I'll not give it to him +nor to any man."</p> + +<p>"You must," said the king, "for my word is +pledged, and you must part with the ring!"</p> + +<p>When she heard this, she slipped the ring from +her finger and threw it into the fire.</p> + +<p>That moment the eleven brothers made eleven +pairs of tongs of themselves; their father, the old +Gruagach, was the twelfth pair.</p> + +<p>The twelve jumped into the fire to know in what +spark of it would they find the old fisherman's son; +and they were a long time working and searching +through the fire, when out flew a spark, and into +the barrel.<span class="pagenum">[98]</span> +The twelve made themselves men, turned over +the barrel, and spilled the wheat on the floor. +Then in a twinkling they were twelve cocks strutting +around.</p> + +<p>They fell to and picked away at the wheat to +know which one would find the fisherman's son. +Soon one dropped on one side, and a second on +the opposite side, until all twelve were lying drunk +from the wheat.</p> + +<p>Then the old fisherman's son made a fox of +himself, and the first cock he came to was the old +Gruagach na g-cleasan himself. He took the head +off the Gruagach with one bite, and the heads off +the eleven brothers with eleven other bites.</p> + +<p>When the twelve were dead, the old fisherman's +son made himself the finest-looking man in Erin, +and began to give music and sport to the king; +and he entertained him five times better than had +the Gruagach and his eleven sons.</p> + +<p>Then the king's daughter fell in love with him, +and she set her mind on him to that degree that +there was no life for her without him.</p> + +<p>When the king saw the straits that his daughter +was in, he ordered the marriage without delay.</p> + +<p>The wedding lasted for nine days and nine +nights, and the ninth night was the best of all.</p> + +<p>When the wedding was over, the king felt he +was losing his strength, so he took the crown off +his own head, and put it on the head of the old +fisherman's son, and made him king of Erin in +place of himself.</p> + +<p>The young couple were the luck, and we the +stepping-stones. The presents we got at the marriage +were stockings of buttermilk and shoes of +paper, and these were worn to the soles of our +feet when we got home from the wedding. +<span class="pagenum">[99]</span></p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<h2> + <a name="CHAPTER_09" id="CHAPTER_09"></a> + THE THIRTEENTH SON OF THE KING OF ERIN. +</h2> + +<p class="dropcap">THERE was a king in Erin long ago who had +thirteen sons, and as they grew up he taught +them good learning and every exercise and art +befitting their rank.</p> + +<p>One day the king went hunting, and saw a swan +swimming in a lake with thirteen little ones. She +kept driving away the thirteenth, and would not let +it come near the others.</p> + +<p>The king wondered greatly at this, and when he +came home he summoned his Sean dall Glic (old +blind sage), and said: "I saw a great wonder +to-day while out hunting,—a swan with thirteen +cygnets, and she driving away the thirteenth continually, +and keeping the twelve with her. Tell +me the cause and reason of this. Why should a +mother hate her thirteenth little one, and guard +the other twelve?"</p> + +<p>"I will tell you," said the old blind sage: "all +creatures on earth, whether beast or human, which +have thirteen young, should put the thirteenth +away, and let it wander for itself through the +world and find its fate, so that the will of Heaven +may work upon it, and not come down on the +others. Now you have thirteen sons, and you +must give the thirteenth to the Diachbha." + <a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">8</a> + <span class="pagenum"> + [100] + </span> +</p> + +<p>"Then that is the meaning of the swan on the +lake,—I must give up my thirteenth son to the +Diachbha?"</p> + +<p>"It is," said the old blind sage; "you must give +up one of your thirteen sons."</p> + +<p>"But how can I give one of them away when I +am so fond of all; and which one shall it be?"</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you what to do. When the thirteen +come home to-night, shut the door against the +last that comes."</p> + +<p>Now one of the sons was slow, not so keen nor +so sharp as another; but the eldest, who was +called Sean Ruadh, was the best, the hero of them +all. And it happened that night that he came +home last, and when he came his father shut the +door against him. The boy raised his hands and +said: "Father, what are you going to do with +me; what do you wish?"</p> + +<p>"It is my duty," said the father, "to give one +of my sons to the Diachbha; and as you are the +thirteenth, you must go."</p> + +<p>"Well, give me my outfit for the road."</p> + +<p>The outfit was brought, Sean Ruadh put it on; +then the father gave him a black-haired steed that +could overtake the wind before him, and outstrip +the wind behind.</p> + +<p>Sean Ruadh mounted the steed and hurried +away. He went on each day without rest, and +slept in the woods at night.</p> + +<p>One morning he put on some old clothes which +he had in a pack on the saddle, and leaving his +horse in the woods, went aside to an opening. +He was not long there when a king rode up and +stopped before him.</p> + +<p>"Who are you, and where are you going?" +asked the king.<span class="pagenum">[101]</span> +"Oh!" said Sean Ruadh, "I am astray. I do +not know where to go, nor what I am to do."</p> + +<p>"If that is how you are, I'll tell you what to +do,—come with me."</p> + +<p>"Why should I go with you?" asked Sean +Ruadh.</p> + +<p>"Well, I have a great many cows, and I have +no one to go with them, no one to mind them. I +am in great trouble also. My daughter will die a +terrible death very soon."</p> + +<p>"How will she die?" asked Sean Ruadh.</p> + +<p>"There is an urfeist,<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">9</a> a great serpent of the sea, +a monster which must get a king's daughter to +devour every seven years. Once in seven years +this thing comes up out of the sea for its meat. +The turn has now come to my daughter, and we +don't know what day will the urfeist appear. The +whole castle and all of us are in mourning for my +wretched child."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps some one will come to save her," said +Sean Ruadh.</p> + +<p>"Oh! there is a whole army of kings' sons who +have come, and they all promise to save her; but +I'm in dread none of them will meet the urfeist."</p> + +<p>Sean Ruadh agreed with the king to serve for +seven years, and went home with him.</p> + +<p>Next morning Sean Ruadh drove out the king's +cows to pasture.</p> + +<p>Now there were three giants not far from the +king's place. They lived in three castles in sight +of each other, and every night each of these giants +shouted just before going to bed. So loud was +the shout that each let out of himself that the +people heard it in all the country around.</p> + +<p>Sean Ruadh drove the cattle up to the giant's<span class="pagenum">[102]</span> +land, pushed down the wall, and let them in. The +grass was very high,—three times better than any +on the king's pastures.</p> + +<p>As Sean Ruadh sat watching the cattle, a giant +came running towards him and called out: "I +don't know whether to put a pinch of you in my +nose, or a bite of you in my mouth!"</p> + +<p>"Bad luck to me," said Sean Ruadh, "if I +came here but to take the life out of you!"</p> + +<p>"How would you like to fight,—on the gray +stones, or with sharp swords?" asked the giant.</p> + +<p>"I'll fight you," said Sean Ruadh, "on the gray +stones, where your great legs will be going down, +and mine standing high."</p> + +<p>They faced one another then, and began to fight. +At the first encounter Sean Ruadh put the giant +down to his knees among the hard gray stones, +at the second he put him to his waist, and at the +third to his shoulders.</p> + +<p>"Come, take me out of this," cried the giant, +"and I'll give you my castle and all I've got. +I'll give you my sword of light that never fails to +kill at a blow. I'll give you my black horse that +can overtake the wind before, and outstrip the +wind behind. These are all up there in my +castle."</p> + +<p>Sean Ruadh killed the giant and went up to +the castle, where the housekeeper said to him: +"Oh! it is you that are welcome. You have +killed the dirty giant that was here. Come with +me now till I show you all the riches and +treasures."</p> + +<p>She opened the door of the giant's store-room +and said: "All these are yours. Here are the +keys of the castle."</p> + +<p>"Keep them till I come again, and wake me in<span class="pagenum">[103]</span> +the evening," said Sean Ruadh, lying down on the +giant's bed.</p> + +<p>He slept till evening; then the housekeeper +roused him, and he drove the king's cattle home. +The cows never gave so much milk as that night. +They gave as much as in a whole week before.</p> + +<p>Sean Ruadh met the king, and asked: "What +news from your daughter?"</p> + +<p>"The great serpent did not come to-day," said +the king; "but he may come to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"Well, to-morrow he may not come till another +day," said Sean Ruadh.</p> + +<p>Now the king knew nothing of the strength of +Sean Ruadh, who was bare-footed, ragged, and +shabby.</p> + +<p>The second morning Sean Ruadh put the king's +cows in the second giant's land. Out came the +second giant with the same questions and threats +as the first, and the cowboy spoke as on the day +before.</p> + +<p>They fell to fighting; and when the giant was +to his shoulders in the hard gray rocks, he said: +"I'll give you my sword of light and my brown-haired +horse if you'll spare my life."</p> + +<p>"Where is your sword of light?" asked Sean +Ruadh.</p> + +<p>"It is hung up over my bed."</p> + +<p>Sean Ruadh ran to the giant's castle, and took +the sword, which screamed out when he seized it; +but he held it fast, hurried back to the giant, and +asked, "How shall I try the edge of this sword?"</p> + +<p>"Against a stick," was the reply.</p> + +<p>"I see no stick better than your own head," said +Sean Ruadh; and with that he swept the head off +the giant.</p> + +<p>The cowboy now went back to the castle and<span class="pagenum">[104]</span> +hung up the sword. "Blessing to you," said the +housekeeper; "you have killed the giant! Come, +now, and I'll show you his riches and treasures, +which are yours forever."</p> + +<p>Sean Ruadh found more treasure in this castle +than in the first one. When he had seen all, he +gave the keys to the housekeeper till he should +need them. He slept as on the day before, then +drove the cows home in the evening.</p> + +<p>The king said: "I have <i>the</i> luck since you came +to me. My cows give three times as much milk +to-day as they did yesterday."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Sean Ruadh, "have you any account +of the urfeist?"</p> + +<p>"He didn't come to-day," said the king; "but +he may come to-morrow."</p> + +<p>Sean Ruadh went out with the king's cows on +the third day, and drove them to the third giant's +land, who came out and fought a more desperate +battle than either of the other two; but the cowboy +pushed him down among the gray rocks to +his shoulders and killed him.</p> + +<p>At the castle of the third giant he was received +with gladness by the housekeeper, who showed +him the treasures and gave him the keys; but he +left the keys with her till he should need them. +That evening the king's cows had more milk than +ever before.</p> + +<p>On the fourth day Sean Ruadh went out with +the cows, but stopped at the first giant's castle. +The housekeeper at his command brought out the +dress of the giant, which was all black. He put +on the giant's apparel, black as night, and girded +on his sword of light. Then he mounted the black-haired +steed, which overtook the wind before, and +outstripped the wind behind; and rushing on between<span class="pagenum">[105]</span> +earth and sky, he never stopped till he came +to the beach, where he saw hundreds upon hundreds +of kings' sons, and champions, who were +anxious to save the king's daughter, but were so +frightened at the terrible urfeist that they would +not go near her.</p> + +<p>When he had seen the princess and the trembling +champions, Sean Ruadh turned his black +steed to the castle. Presently the king saw, riding +between earth and sky, a splendid stranger, who +stopped before him.</p> + +<p>"What is that I see on the shore?" asked the +stranger. "Is it a fair, or some great meeting?"</p> + +<p>"Haven't you heard," asked the king, "that +a monster is coming to destroy my daughter +to-day?"</p> + +<p>"No, I haven't heard anything," answered the +stranger, who turned away and disappeared.</p> + +<p>Soon the black horseman was before the princess, +who was sitting alone on a rock near the sea. +As she looked at the stranger, she thought he +was the finest man on earth, and her heart was +cheered.</p> + +<p>"Have you no one to save you?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"No one."</p> + +<p>"Will you let me lay my head on your lap till +the urfeist comes? Then rouse me."</p> + +<p>He put his head on her lap and fell asleep. +While he slept, the princess took three hairs from +his head and hid them in her bosom. As soon +as she had hidden the hairs, she saw the urfeist +coming on the sea, great as an island, and throwing +up water to the sky as he moved. She roused the +stranger, who sprang up to defend her.</p> + +<p>The urfeist came upon shore, and was advancing +on the princess with mouth open and wide<span class="pagenum">[106]</span> +as a bridge, when the stranger stood before him +and said: "This woman is mine, not yours!"</p> + +<p>Then drawing his sword of light, he swept off +the monster's head with a blow; but the head +rushed back to its place, and grew on again.</p> + +<p>In a twinkle the urfeist turned and went back +to the sea; but as he went, he said: "I'll be +here again to-morrow, and swallow the whole world +before me as I come."</p> + +<p>"Well," answered the stranger, "maybe another +will come to meet you."</p> + +<p>Sean Ruadh mounted his black steed, and was +gone before the princess could stop him. Sad +was her heart when she saw him rush off between +the earth and sky more swiftly than any wind.</p> + +<p>Sean Ruadh went to the first giant's castle and +put away his horse, clothes, and sword. Then he +slept on the giant's bed till evening, when the +housekeeper woke him, and he drove home the +cows. Meeting the king, he asked: "Well, how +has your daughter fared to-day?"</p> + +<p>"Oh! the urfeist came out of the sea to carry +her away; but a wonderful black champion came +riding between earth and sky and saved her."</p> + +<p>"Who was he?"</p> + +<p>"Oh! there is many a man who says he did it. +But my daughter isn't saved yet, for the urfeist +said he'd come to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"Well, never fear; perhaps another champion +will come to-morrow."</p> + +<p>Next morning Sean Ruadh drove the king's +cows to the land of the second giant, where he +left them feeding, and then went to the castle, +where the housekeeper met him and said: "You +are welcome. I'm here before you, and all is +well."<span class="pagenum">[107]</span> +"Let the brown horse be brought; let the giant's +apparel and sword be ready for me," said Sean +Ruadh.</p> + +<p>The apparel was brought, the beautiful blue +dress of the second giant, and his sword of light. +Sean Ruadh put on the apparel, took the sword, +mounted the brown steed, and sped away between +earth and air three times more swiftly than the +day before.</p> + +<p>He rode first to the seashore, saw the king's +daughter sitting on the rock alone, and the princes +and champions far away, trembling in dread of the +urfeist. Then he rode to the king, enquired about +the crowd on the seashore, and received the same +answer as before. "But is there no man to save +her?" asked Sean Ruadh.</p> + +<p>"Oh! there are men enough," said the king, +"who promise to save her, and say they are brave; +but there is no man of them who will stand to his +word and face the urfeist when he rises from +the sea."</p> + +<p>Sean Ruadh was away before the king knew it, +and rode to the princess in his suit of blue, bearing +his sword of light. "Is there no one to save +you?" asked he.</p> + +<p>"No one."</p> + +<p>"Let me lay my head on your lap, and when +the urfeist comes, rouse me."</p> + +<p>He put his head on her lap, and while he slept +she took out the three hairs, compared them with +his hair, and said to herself: "You are the man +who was here yesterday."</p> + +<p>When the urfeist appeared, coming over the sea, +the princess roused the stranger, who sprang up +and hurried to the beach.</p> + +<p>The monster, moving at a greater speed, and<span class="pagenum">[108]</span> +raising more water than on the day before, came +with open mouth to land. Again Sean Ruadh stood +in his way, and with one blow of the giant's sword +made two halves of the urfeist. But the two +halves rushed together, and were one as before.</p> + +<p>Then the urfeist turned to the sea again, and +said as he went: "All the champions on earth +won't save her from me to-morrow!"</p> + +<p>Sean Ruadh sprang to his steed and back to the +castle. He went, leaving the princess in despair at +his going. She tore her hair and wept for the loss +of the blue champion,—the one man who had +dared to save her.</p> + +<p>Sean Ruadh put on his old clothes, and drove +home the cows as usual. The king said: "A +strange champion, all dressed in blue, saved my +daughter to-day; but she is grieving her life away +because he is gone."</p> + +<p>"Well, that is a small matter, since her life is +safe," said Sean Ruadh.</p> + +<p>There was a feast for the whole world that night +at the king's castle, and gladness was on every face +that the king's daughter was safe again.</p> + +<p>Next day Sean Ruadh drove the cows to the +third giant's pasture, went to the castle, and told +the housekeeper to bring the giant's sword and +apparel, and have the red steed led to the door. +The third giant's dress had as many colors as there +are in the sky, and his boots were of blue glass.</p> + +<p>Sean Ruadh, dressed and mounted on his red +steed, was the most beautiful man in the world. +When ready to start, the housekeeper said to him: +"The beast will be so enraged this time that no +arms can stop him; he will rise from the sea +with three great swords coming out of his mouth, +and he could cut to pieces and swallow the whole +world if it stood before him in battle. There is<span class="pagenum">[109]</span> +only one way to conquer the urfeist, and I will +show it to you. Take this brown apple, put it in +your bosom, and when he comes rushing from the +sea with open mouth, do you throw the apple +down his throat, and the great urfeist will melt +away and die on the strand."</p> + +<p>Sean Ruadh went on the red steed between +earth and sky, with thrice the speed of the day +before. He saw the maiden sitting on the rock +alone, saw the trembling kings' sons in the distance +watching to know what would happen, and +saw the king hoping for some one to save his +daughter; then he went to the princess, and put +his head on her lap; when he had fallen asleep, +she took the three hairs from her bosom, and looking +at them, said: "You are the man who saved +me yesterday."</p> + +<p>The urfeist was not long in coming. The princess +roused Sean Ruadh, who sprang to his feet +and went to the sea. The urfeist came up enormous, +terrible to look at, with a mouth big enough +to swallow the world, and three sharp swords coming +out of it. When he saw Sean Ruadh, he +sprang at him with a roar; but Sean Ruadh threw +the apple into his mouth, and the beast fell helpless +on the strand, flattened out and melted away +to a dirty jelly on the shore.</p> + +<p>Then Sean Ruadh went towards the princess and +said: "That urfeist will never trouble man or +woman again."</p> + +<p>The princess ran and tried to cling to him; but +he was on the red steed, rushing away between +earth and sky, before she could stop him. She +held, however, so firmly to one of the blue glass +boots that Sean Ruadh had to leave it in her +hands.</p> + +<p>When he drove home the cows that night, the<span class="pagenum">[110]</span> +king came out, and Sean Ruadh asked: "What +news from the urfeist?"</p> + +<p>"Oh!" said the king, "I've had the luck since +you came to me. A champion wearing all the +colors of the sky, and riding a red steed between +earth and air, destroyed the urfeist to-day. My +daughter is safe forever; but she is ready to kill herself +because she hasn't the man that saved her."</p> + +<p>That night there was a feast in the king's +castle such as no one had ever seen before. The +halls were filled with princes and champions, and +each one said: "I am the man that saved the +princess!"</p> + +<p>The king sent for the old blind sage, and asked, +what should he do to find the man who saved his +daughter. The old blind sage said,—</p> + +<p>"Send out word to all the world that the man +whose foot the blue glass boot will fit is the champion +who killed the urfeist, and you'll give him +your daughter in marriage."</p> + +<p>The king sent out word to the world to come +to try on the boot. It was too large for some, too +small for others. When all had failed, the old +sage said,—</p> + +<p>"All have tried the boot but the cowboy."</p> + +<p>"Oh! he is always out with the cows; what use +in his trying," said the king.</p> + +<p>"No matter," answered the old blind sage; "let +twenty men go and bring down the cowboy."</p> + +<p>The king sent up twenty men, who found the +cowboy sleeping in the shadow of a stone wall. +They began to make a hay rope to bind him; but +he woke up, and had twenty ropes ready before +they had one. Then he jumped at them, tied the +twenty in a bundle, and fastened the bundle to +the wall.<span class="pagenum">[111]</span> +They waited and waited at the castle for the +twenty men and the cowboy, till at last the king +sent twenty men more, with swords, to know what +was the delay.</p> + +<p>When they came, this twenty began to make a +hay rope to tie the cowboy; but he had twenty +ropes made before their one, and no matter how +they fought, the cowboy tied the twenty in a +bundle, and the bundle to the other twenty men.</p> + +<p>When neither party came back, the old blind +sage said to the king: "Go up now, and throw +yourself down before the cowboy, for he has tied +the forty men in two bundles, and the bundles to +each other."</p> + +<p>The king went and threw himself down before +the cowboy, who raised him up and said: "What +is this for?"</p> + +<p>"Come down now and try on the glass boot," +said the king.</p> + +<p>"How can I go, when I have work to do here?"</p> + +<p>"Oh! never mind; you'll come back soon +enough to do the work."</p> + +<p>The cowboy untied the forty men and went +down with the king. When he stood in front of +the castle, he saw the princess sitting in her upper +chamber, and the glass boot on the window-sill +before her.</p> + +<p>That moment the boot sprang from the window +through the air to him, and went on his foot of +itself. The princess was downstairs in a twinkle, +and in the arms of Sean Ruadh.</p> + +<p>The whole place was crowded with kings' sons +and champions, who claimed that they had saved +the princess.</p> + +<p>"What are these men here for?" asked Sean +Ruadh.<span class="pagenum">[112]</span> +"Oh! they have been trying to put on the boot," +said the king.</p> + +<p>With that Sean Ruadh drew his sword of light, +swept the heads off every man of them, and threw +heads and bodies on the dirt-heap behind the +castle.</p> + +<p>Then the king sent ships with messengers to all +the kings and queens of the world,—to the kings of +Spain, France, Greece, and Lochlin, and to Diarmuid, +son of the monarch of light,—to come to +the wedding of his daughter and Sean Ruadh.</p> + +<p>Sean Ruadh, after the wedding, went with his +wife to live in the kingdom of the giants, and left +his father-in-law on his own land. +<span class="pagenum">[113]</span></p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<h2> + <a name="CHAPTER_10" id="CHAPTER_10"></a> + KIL ARTHUR. +</h2> + +<p class="dropcap">THERE was a time long ago, and if we had +lived then, we shouldn't be living now.</p> + +<p>In that time there was a law in the world that +if a young man came to woo a young woman, and +her people wouldn't give her to him, the young +woman should get her death by the law.</p> + +<p>There was a king in Erin at that time who had +a daughter, and he had a son too, who was called +Kil Arthur, son of the monarch of Erin.</p> + +<p>Now, not far from the castle of the king there +was a tinker; and one morning he said to his +mother: "Put down my breakfast for me, mother."</p> + +<p>"Where are you going?" asked the mother.</p> + +<p>"I'm going for a wife."</p> + +<p>"Where?"</p> + +<p>"I am going for the daughter of the king of +Erin."</p> + +<p>"Oh! my son, bad luck is upon you. It is +death to ask for the king's daughter, and you a +tinker."</p> + +<p>"I don't care for that," said he.</p> + +<p>So the tinker went to the king's castle. They +were at dinner when he came, and the king trembled +as he saw him.</p> + +<p>Though they were at table, the tinker went +into the room.</p> + +<p>The king asked: "What did you come for at +this time?"</p> + +<p>"I came to marry your daughter."</p> + +<p>"That life and strength may leave me if ever +you get my daughter in marriage! I'd give her<span class="pagenum">[114]</span> +to death before I would to a tinker."</p> + +<p>Now Kil Arthur, the king's son, came in, caught +the tinker and hanged him, facing the front of the +castle. When he was dead, they made seven parts +of his body, and flung them into the sea.</p> + +<p>Then the king had a box made so close and tight +that no water could enter, and inside the box they +fixed a coffin; and when they had put a bed with +meat and drink into the coffin, they brought the +king's daughter, laid her on the bed, closed the box, +and pushed it into the open sea. The box went +out with the tide and moved on the water for a +long time; where it was one day it was not the +next,—carried along by the waves day and night, +till at last it came to another land.</p> + +<p>Now, in the other land was a man who had +spent his time in going to sea, till at length he got +very poor, and said: "I'll stay at home now, since +God has let me live this long. I heard my father +say once that if a man would always rise early +and walk along the strand, he would get his +fortune from the tide at last."</p> + +<p>One morning early, as this man was going along +the strand, he saw the box, and brought it up to +the shore, where he opened it and took out the +coffin. When the lid was off the coffin, he found +a woman inside alive.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" said he, "I'd rather have you there than +the full of the box of gold."</p> + +<p>"I think the gold would be better for you," +said the woman.</p> + +<p>He took the stranger to his house, and gave her +food and drink. Then he made a great cross on +the ground, and clasping hands with the woman, +jumped over the arms of the cross, going in the +same direction as the sun. This was the form of +marriage in that land.<span class="pagenum">[115]</span> +They lived together pleasantly. She was a +fine woman, worked well for her husband, and +brought him great wealth, so that he became +richer than any man; and one day, when out walking +alone, he said to himself: "I am able to give +a grand dinner now to Ri Fohin, Sladaire Mor +[king under the wave, the great robber], who +owns men, women, and every kind of beast."</p> + +<p>Then he went home and invited Ri Fohin to +dinner. He came with all the men, women, and +beasts he had, and they covered the country for +six miles.</p> + +<p>The beasts were fed outside by themselves, but +the people in the house. When dinner was over, +he asked Ri Fohin: "Have you ever seen a house +so fine and rich, or a dinner so good, as mine +to-night?"</p> + +<p>"I have not," said Ri Fohin.</p> + +<p>Then the man went to each person present. +Each gave the same answer, and said, "I have +never seen such a house nor such a dinner."</p> + +<p>He asked his wife, and she said: "My praise +is no praise here; but what is this to the house +and the feasting of my father, the king of +Erin?"</p> + +<p>"Why did you say that?" asked the man, and +he went a second and a third time to the guests +and to his wife. All had the same answers for +him. Then he gave his wife a flip of the thumb +on her ear, in a friendly way, and said: "Why +don't you give good luck to my house; why do +you give it a bad name?"</p> + +<p>Then all the guests said: "It is a shame to +strike your wife on the night of a feast."</p> + +<p>Now the man was angry and went out of his +house. It was growing dark, but he saw a champion +coming on a black steed between earth and<span class="pagenum">[116]</span> +air; and the champion, who was no other than Kil +Arthur, his brother-in-law, took him up and bore +him away to the castle of the king of Erin.</p> + +<p>When Kil Arthur arrived they were just sitting +down to dinner in the castle, and the man dined +with his father-in-law. After dinner the king of +Erin had cards brought and asked his son-in-law: +"Do you ever play with these?"</p> + +<p>"No, I have never played with the like of +them."</p> + +<p>"Well, shuffle them now," said the king. He +shuffled; and as they were enchanted cards and +whoever held them could never lose a game he +was the best player in the world, though he had +never played a game before in his life.</p> + +<p>The king said, "Put them in your pocket, they +may do you good." Then the king gave him a +fiddle, and asked:</p> + +<p>"Have you ever played on the like of this?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed I have not," said the man.</p> + +<p>"Well, play on it now," said the king.</p> + +<p>He played, and never in his life had he heard +such music.</p> + +<p>"Keep it," said the king; "as long as you don't +let it from you, you're the first musician on earth. +Now I'll give you something else. Here is a cup +which will always give you every kind of drink +you can wish for; and if all the men in the world +were to drink out of it they could never empty it. +Keep these three things; but never raise hand on +your wife again."</p> + +<p>The king of Erin gave him his blessing; then +Kil Arthur took him up on the steed, and going +between earth and sky he was soon back at his +own home.</p> + +<p>Now Ri Fohin had carried off the man's wife +and all that he had while he was at dinner with<span class="pagenum">[117]</span> +the King of Erin. Going out on the road the +king's son-in-law began to cry: "Oh, what shall +I do; what shall I do!" and as he cried, who +should come but Kil Arthur on his steed, who +said, "Be quiet, I'll go for your wife and goods."</p> + +<p>Kil Arthur went, and killed Ri Fohin and all his +people and beasts,—didn't leave one alive. Then +he brought back his sister to her husband, and +stayed with them for three years.</p> + +<p>One day he said to his sister: "I am going to +leave you. I don't know what strength I have; I'll +walk the world now till I know is there a man in +it as good as myself."</p> + +<p>Next morning he bade good-bye to his sister, +and rode away on his black-haired steed, which +overtook the wind before and outstripped the +wind behind. He travelled swiftly till evening, +spent the night in a forest, and the second day +hurried on as he had the first.</p> + +<p>The second night he spent in a forest; and next +morning as he rose from the ground he saw before +him a man covered with blood from fighting, and +the clothes nearly torn from his body.</p> + +<p>"What have you been doing?" asked Kil +Arthur.</p> + +<p>"I have been playing cards all night. And +where are you going?" inquired the stranger of +Kil Arthur.</p> + +<p>"I am going around the world to know can I +find a man as good as myself."</p> + +<p>"Come with me," said the stranger, "and I'll +show you a man who couldn't find his match till +he went to fight the main ocean."</p> + +<p>Kil Arthur went with the ragged stranger till +they came to a place from which they saw a giant +out on the ocean beating the waves with a club.</p> + +<p>Kil Arthur went up to the giant's castle, and<span class="pagenum">[118]</span> +struck the pole of combat such a blow that the +giant in the ocean heard it above the noise of his +club as he pounded the waves.</p> + +<p>"What do you want?" asked the giant in the +ocean, as he stopped from the pounding.</p> + +<p>"I want you to come in here to land," said Kil +Arthur, "and fight with a better man than yourself."</p> + +<p>The giant came to land, and standing near his +castle said to Kil Arthur: "Which would you +rather fight with,—gray stones or sharp weapons?"</p> + +<p>"Gray stones," said Kil Arthur.</p> + +<p>They went at each other, and fought the most +terrible battle that either of them had ever seen +till that day. At last Kil Arthur pushed the giant +to his shoulders through solid earth.</p> + +<p>"Take me out of this," cried the giant, "and I'll +give you my sword of light that never missed a +blow, my Druidic rod of most powerful enchantment, +and my healing draught which cures every +sickness and wound."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Kil Arthur, "I'll go for your sword +and try it."</p> + +<p>He went to the giant's castle for the sword, the +rod, and the healing draught. When he returned the +giant said: "Try the sword on that tree out there."</p> + +<p>"Oh," said Kil Arthur, "there is no tree so good +as your own neck," and with that he swept off the +head of the giant; took it, and went on his way +till he came to a house. He went in and put the +head on a table; but that instant it disappeared,—went +away of itself. Food and drink of every +kind came on the table. When Kil Arthur had +eaten and the table was cleared by some invisible +power, the giant's head bounded on to the table, +and with it a pack of cards.<span class="pagenum">[119]</span> +"Perhaps this head wants to play with me," +thought Kil Arthur, and he cut his own cards and +shuffled them.</p> + +<p>The head took up the cards and played with its +mouth as well as any man could with his hands. +It won all the time,—wasn't playing fairly. Then +Kil Arthur thought: "I'll settle this;" and he +took the cards and showed how the head had +taken five points in the game that didn't belong +to it. Then the head sprang at him, struck and +beat him till he seized and hurled it into the fire.</p> + +<p>As soon as he had the head in the fire a beautiful +woman stood before him, and said: "You +have killed nine of my brothers, and this was the +best of the nine. I have eight more brothers who +go out to fight with four hundred men each day, +and they kill them all; but next morning the four +hundred are alive again and my brothers have to +do battle anew. Now my mother and these eight +brothers will be here soon; and they'll go down on +their bended knees and curse you who killed my +nine brothers, and I'm afraid your blood will rise +within you when you hear the curses, and you'll +kill my eight remaining brothers."</p> + +<p>"Oh," said Kil Arthur, "I'll be deaf when the +curses are spoken; I'll not hear them." Then he +went to a couch and lay down. Presently the +mother and eight brothers came, and cursed Kil +Arthur with all the curses they knew. He heard +them to the end, but gave no word from himself.</p> + +<p>Next morning he rose early, girded on his nine-edged +sword, went forth to where the eight brothers +were going to fight the four hundred, and said to +the eight: "Sit down, and I'll fight in your +place."</p> + +<p>Kil Arthur faced the four hundred, and fought<span class="pagenum">[120]</span> +with them alone; and exactly at midday he had +them all dead. "Now some one," said he, "brings +these to life again. I'll lie down among them and +see who it is."</p> + +<p>Soon he saw an old hag coming with a brush in +her hand, and an open vessel hanging from her +neck by a string. When she came to the four +hundred she dipped the brush into the vessel and +sprinkled the liquid which was in it over the +bodies of the men. They rose up behind her as +she passed along.</p> + +<p>"Bad luck to you," said Kil Arthur, "you are +the one that keeps them alive;" then he seized +her. Putting one of his feet on her two ankles, and +grasping her by the head and shoulders, he twisted +her body till he put the life out of her.</p> + +<p>When dying she said: "I put you under a +curse, to keep on this road till you come to the +'ram of the five rocks,' and tell him you have +killed the hag of the heights and all her care."</p> + +<p>He went to the place where the ram of the five +rocks lived and struck the pole of combat before +his castle. Out came the ram, and they fought +till Kil Arthur seized his enemy and dashed the +brains out of him against the rocks.</p> + +<p>Then he went to the castle of the beautiful +woman whose nine brothers he had killed, and for +whose eight brothers he had slain the four hundred. +When he appeared the mother rejoiced; +the eight brothers blessed him and gave him their +sister in marriage; and Kil Arthur took the beautiful +woman to his father's castle in Erin, where +they both lived happily and well. +<span class="pagenum">[121]</span></p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<h2> + <a name="CHAPTER_11" id="CHAPTER_11"></a> + SHAKING-HEAD. +</h2> + +<p class="dropcap">THERE was once a king of a province in Erin +who had an only son. The king was very +careful of this son, and sent him to school for +good instruction.</p> + +<p>The other three kings of provinces in Erin had +three sons at the same school; and the three sent +word by this one to his father, that if he didn't +put his son to death they would put both father +and son to death themselves.</p> + +<p>When the young man came home with this +word to his father and mother, they were grieved +when they heard it. But the king's son said that +he would go out into the world to seek his fortune, +and settle the trouble in that way. So away he +went, taking with him only five pounds in money +for his support.</p> + +<p>The young man travelled on till he came to a +grave-yard, where he saw four men fighting over a +coffin. Then he went up to the four, and saw that +two of them were trying to put the coffin down +into a grave, and the other two preventing them +and keeping the coffin above ground. When the +king's son came near the men, he asked: "Why +do you fight in such a place as this, and why do +you keep the coffin above ground?"</p> + +<p>Two of the men answered, and said: "The +body of our brother is in this coffin, and these two +men won't let us bury it."</p> + +<p>The other two then said: "We have a debt of +five pounds on the dead man, and we won't let his +body be buried till the debt is paid."<span class="pagenum">[122]</span> +The king's son said: "Do you let these men +bury their brother, and I will pay what you ask."</p> + +<p>Then the two let the brothers of the dead man +bury him. The king's son paid the five pounds, +and went away empty-handed, and, except the +clothes on his back, he had no more than on +the day he was born. After he had gone on +his way awhile and the grave-yard was out of +sight he turned and saw a sprightly red-haired +man (<i>fear ruadh</i>) hurrying after him. When he +came up, the stranger asked: "Don't you want a +serving man?"</p> + +<p>"I do not," answered the king's son, "I have +nothing to support myself with, let alone a serving +man."</p> + +<p>"Well, never mind that," said the red-haired +man; "I'll be with you wherever you go, whether +you have anything or not."</p> + +<p>"What is your name?" asked the king's son.</p> + +<p>"Shaking-head," answered the red man.</p> + +<p>When they had gone on a piece of the way together +the king's son stopped and asked: "Where +shall we be to-night?"</p> + +<p>"We shall be in a giant's castle where there will +be small welcome for us," said Shaking-head.</p> + +<p>When evening came they found themselves in +front of a castle. In they went and saw no one +inside, only a tall old hag. But they were not long +in the place till they heard a loud, rushing noise +outside, and a blow on the castle. The giant came; +and the first words he let out of his mouth were: +"I'm glad to have an Erinach on my supper-table +to eat to-night." Then turning to the two he +said: "What brought you here this evening; +what do you want in my castle?"</p> + +<p>"All the champions and heroes of Erin are going +to take your property from you and destroy yourself;<span class="pagenum">[123]</span> +we have come to warn you, and there is +nobody to save you from them but us," said +Shaking-head.</p> + +<p>When the giant heard these words he changed +his treatment entirely. He gave the king's son +and Shaking-head a hearty welcome and a kindly +greeting. When he understood the news they +brought, he washed them with the tears of his +eyes, dried them with kisses, and gave them a +good supper and a soft bed that night.</p> + +<p>Next morning the giant was up at an early hour, +and he went to the bedside of each man and told +him to rise and have breakfast. Shaking-head +asked his reward of the giant for telling him of +the champions of Erin and the danger he was in.</p> + +<p>"Well," said the giant, "there's a pot of gold +over there under my bed; take as much out of it +as ever you wish, and welcome."</p> + +<p>"It isn't gold I want for my service," said Shaking-head; +"you have a gift which suits me better."</p> + +<p>"What gift is that?" asked the giant.</p> + +<p>"The light black steed in your stable."</p> + +<p>"That's a gift I won't give you," said the giant, +"for when any one comes to trouble or attack me, +all I have to do is to throw my leg over that steed, +and away he carries me out of sight of every +enemy."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Shaking-head, "if you don't give +me that steed I'll bring all the kingdom of Erin +against you, and you'll be destroyed with all +you have."</p> + +<p>The giant stopped a moment, and said: "I believe +you'd do that thing, so you may take the +steed." Then Shaking-head took the steed of the +giant, gave him to the king's son, and away they +went.</p> + +<p>At sunset Shaking-head said: "We are near<span class="pagenum">[124]</span> +the castle of another giant, the next brother to the +one who entertained us last night. He hasn't +much welcome for us either; but he will treat us +well when he is threatened."</p> + +<p>The second giant was going to eat the king's +son for supper, but when Shaking-head told him +about the forces of Erin he changed his manner +and entertained them well.</p> + +<p>Next morning after breakfast, Shaking-head said: +"You must give me a present for my services in +warning you."</p> + +<p>"There is a pot of gold under my bed," said the +giant; "take all you want of it."</p> + +<p>"I don't want your gold," said Shaking-head, +"but you have a gift which suits me well."</p> + +<p>"What is that?" asked the giant.</p> + +<p>"The two-handed black sword that never fails a +blow."</p> + +<p>"You won't get that gift from me," said the +giant; "and I can't spare it; for if a whole army +were to come against me, as soon as I'd have my +two hands on the hilt of that sword, I'd let no man +near me without sweeping the head off him."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Shaking-head, "I have been keeping +back your enemies this long time; but I'll let +them at you now, and I'll raise up more. I'll put +the whole kingdom of Erin against you."</p> + +<p>The giant stopped a moment, and said: "I believe +you'd do that if it served you." So he took +the sword off his belt and handed it to his +guest. Shaking-head gave it to the king's +son, who mounted his steed, and they both went +away.</p> + +<p>When they had gone some distance from the +giant's castle Shaking-head said to the king's +son, "Where shall we be to-night?—you have +more knowledge than I."<span class="pagenum">[125]</span> +"Indeed then I have not," said the king's son; +"I have no knowledge at all of where we are going; +it is you who have the knowledge."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Shaking-head, "we'll be at the +third and youngest giant's castle to-night, and at first +he'll treat us far worse and more harshly, but still +we'll take this night's lodging of him, and a good +gift in the morning."</p> + +<p>Soon after sunset they came to the castle +where they met the worst reception and the +harshest they had found on the road. The giant +was going to eat them both for supper; but when +Shaking-head told him of the champions of Erin, +he became as kind as his two brothers, and gave +good entertainment to both.</p> + +<p>Next morning after breakfast, Shaking-head +asked for a present in return for his services.</p> + +<p>"Do you see the pot of gold in the corner +there under my bed?—take all you want and +welcome," said the giant.</p> + +<p>"It's not gold I want," said Shaking-head, "but +the cloak of darkness."</p> + +<p>"Oh," said the giant, "you'll not get that cloak +of me, for I want it myself. If any man were to +come against me, all I'd have to do would be to +put that cloak on my shoulders, and no one in the +world could see me, or know where I'd be."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Shaking-head, "it's long enough +that I am keeping your enemies away; and if you +don't give me that cloak now I'll raise all the kingdom +of Erin and still more forces to destroy you, +and it's not long you'll last after they come."</p> + +<p>The giant thought a moment, and then said: "I +believe you'd do what you say. There's the +black cloak hanging on the wall before you; +take it."</p> + +<p>Shaking-head took the cloak, and the two went<span class="pagenum">[126]</span> +away together, the king's son riding on the light +black steed, and having the double-handed sword +at his back. When out of sight of the giant, +Shaking-head put on the cloak, and wasn't to be +seen, and no other man could have been seen in +his place. Then the king's son looked around, +and began to call and search for his man,—he +was lonely without him and grieved not to see +him. Shaking-head, glad to see the affection of +the king's son, took off the cloak and was at his +side again.</p> + +<p>"Where are we going now?" asked the king's son.</p> + +<p>"We are going on a long journey to (Ri Chuil +an Or) King Behind the Gold, to ask his daughter +of him."</p> + +<p>The two travelled on, till they came to the castle +of King Behind the Gold. Then Shaking-head +said: "Go in you, and ask his daughter of the +king, and I'll stay here outside with the cloak on +me." So he went in and spoke to the king, and +the answer he got was this:—</p> + +<p>"I am willing to give you my daughter, but you +won't get her unless you do what she will ask of +you. And I must tell you now that three hundred +kings' sons, lacking one, have come to ask for my +daughter, and in the garden behind my castle are +three hundred iron spikes, and every spike of +them but one is covered with the head of a king's +son who couldn't do what my daughter wanted of +him, and I'm greatly in dread that your own head +will be put on the one spike that is left uncovered."</p> + +<p>"Well," said the king's son, "I'll do my best +to keep my head where it is at present."</p> + +<p>"Stay here in my castle," said the king, "and +you'll have good entertainment till we know can +you do what will be asked of you."<span class="pagenum">[127]</span> +At night when the king's son was going to bed, +the princess gave him a thimble, and said: "Have +this for me in the morning."</p> + +<p>He put the thimble on his finger; and she +thought it could be easily taken away, if he would +sleep. So she came to him in the night, with a +drink, and said: "I give you this in hopes I'll +gain more drink by you." He swallowed the +liquor, and the princess went away with the empty +cup. Then the king's son put the thimble in his +mouth between his cheek and his teeth for safe +keeping, and was soon asleep.</p> + +<p>When the princess came to her own chamber, +she struck her maid with a <i>slat an draoichta</i> (a +rod of enchantment) and turned her into a rat; +then she made such music of fifes and trumpets to +sound throughout the castle, that every soul in it +fell asleep. That minute, she sent the rat to where +the king's son was sleeping, and the rat put her +tail into the nostrils of the young man, tickled his +nose so that he sneezed and blew the thimble out +of his mouth. The rat caught it and ran away to +the princess, who struck her with the rod of enchantment +and turned her into a maid again.</p> + +<p>Then the princess and the maid set out for +the eastern world, taking the thimble with them. +Shaking-head, who was watching with his cloak on, +unseen by all, had seen everything, and now +followed at their heels. In the eastern world, at +the sea-side was a rock. The princess tapped it +with her finger, and the rock opened; there was +a great house inside, and in the house a giant. +The princess greeted him and gave him the thimble, +saying: "You're to keep this so no man +can get it."</p> + +<p>"Oh," said the giant, taking the thimble and<span class="pagenum">[128]</span> +throwing it aside, "you need have no fear; no man +can find me in this place."</p> + +<p>Shaking-head caught the thimble from the +ground and put it in his pocket. When she had +finished conversation with the giant, the princess +kissed him, and hurried away. Shaking-head followed +her step for step, till they came at break +of day to the castle of King Behind the Gold. +Shaking-head went to the king's son and asked: +"Was anything given you to keep last night?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, before I came to this chamber the +princess gave me her thimble, and told me to +have it for her in the morning."</p> + +<p>"Have you it now?" asked Shaking-head.</p> + +<p>"It is not in my mouth where I put it last night, +it is not in the bed; I'm afraid my head is lost," +said the king's son.</p> + +<p>"Well, look at this," said Shaking-head, taking +the thimble out of his pocket and giving it to him. +"The whole kingdom is moving to-day to see your +death. All the people have heard that you are +here asking for the princess, and they think your +head'll be put on the last spike in the garden, +with the heads of the other kings' sons. Rise up +now, mount your light black steed, ride to the +summer-house of the princess and her father, and +give her the thimble."</p> + +<p>The king's son did as Shaking-head told him. +When he gave up the thimble, the king said, "You +have won one third of my daughter." But the +princess was bitterly angry and vexed to the +heart, that any man on earth should know that +she had dealings with the giant; she cared more +for that than anything else.</p> + +<p>When the second day had passed, and the king's +son was going to bed, the princess gave him a<span class="pagenum">[129]</span> +comb to keep, and said: "If you don't have this +for me in the morning, your head will be put on +the spike that's left in my father's garden."</p> + +<p>The king's son took the comb with him, +wrapped it in a handkerchief, and tied it to his +head.</p> + +<p>In the night the princess came with a draught +which she gave him, and soon he was asleep. +Going back to her own chamber, she struck the +maid with her rod of enchantment, and made a +great yellow cat of her. Then she caused such music +of fifes and trumpets to sound throughout the +castle that every soul was in a deep sleep before +the music was over, and that moment she sent the +cat to the chamber of the king's son. The cat +worked the handkerchief off his head, took out +the comb and ran with it to the princess, who +turned her into a maid again.</p> + +<p>The two set out for the eastern world straightway; +but as they did, Shaking-head followed them +in his cloak of darkness, till they came to the +house of the giant in the great rock at the end of +the road, at the sea. The princess gave the giant +the comb, and said: "The thimble that I gave +you to keep last night was taken from you, for the +king's son in Erin brought it back to me this morning, +and has done one third of the work of winning +me, and I didn't expect you'd serve me in this +way."</p> + +<p>When the giant heard this, he was raging, and +threw the comb into the sea behind him. Then +with Druidic spells he raised thunder and lightning +and wind. The sea was roaring with storm +and rain; but the comb had not touched the water +when Shaking-head caught it.</p> + +<p>When her talk was over the princess gave the<span class="pagenum">[130]</span> +giant a kiss, and home she went with the maid; +but Shaking-head followed them step by step.</p> + +<p>In the morning Shaking-head went to the king's +son, roused him, and asked: "What was your +task last night?"</p> + +<p>"The princess gave me a comb to have for her +this morning," answered the king's son.</p> + +<p>"Where is it now?" asked Shaking-head.</p> + +<p>"Here on my head," said the king's son, putting +up his hand to get it; but the comb was +gone. "I'm done for now," said the king's son; +"my head will be on the last spike to-day unless +I have the comb for the princess."</p> + +<p>"Here it is for you," said Shaking-head, taking +the comb out of his pocket. "And now," said +he, "the whole kingdom is coming to this castle +to-day to see your head put on the last spike in +the garden of King Behind the Gold, for all men +think the same will happen to you that has happened +to every king's son before you. Go up on +your steed and ride to the summer-house where +the king and his daughter are sitting, and give her +the comb."</p> + +<p>The king's son did as Shaking-head bade him. +When he saw the comb the king said, "Now you +have my daughter two-thirds won." But her face +went from the princess entirely, she was so vexed +that any man should know of her dealings with +the giant.</p> + +<p>The third night when he was going to bed the +princess said to the king's son, "If you will not +have at my father's castle to-morrow morning the +head I will kiss to-night, you'll die to-morrow, and +your own head will be put on the last spike in my +father's garden." Later in the night she came to +the bedside of the king's son with a draught, which<span class="pagenum">[131]</span> +he drank, and before she was back in her chamber, +he slept. Then she made such music all over the +castle that not a soul was awake when the music +had ceased. That moment she hurried away with +her maid to the eastern world; but Shaking-head +followed her in his cloak of darkness. This time +he carried with him the two-handed sword that +never failed a blow.</p> + +<p>When she came to the rock in the eastern world +and entered the house of the giant, the princess +said, "You let my two gifts go with the son of the +king in Erin, and he'll have me won to-morrow if +he'll have your head at my father's castle in the +morning."</p> + +<p>"Never fear," said the giant, "there is nothing in +the world to take the head off me but the double-handed +sword of darkness that never fails a blow, +and that sword belongs to my brother in the +western world."</p> + +<p>The princess gave the giant a kiss at parting; +and as she hurried away with her maid the giant +turned to look at her. His head was covered +with an iron cap; but as he looked he laid bare +a thin strip of his neck. Shaking-head was +there near him, and said in his mind: "Your +brother's sword has never been so close to your +neck before;" and with one blow he swept the +head off him. Then began the greatest struggle +that Shaking-head ever had, to keep the head +from the body of the giant. The head fought +to put itself on again, and never stopped till +the body was dead; then it fell to the ground. +Shaking-head seized, but couldn't stir the head,—couldn't +move it from its place. Then he +searched all around it and found a (<i>bar an suan</i>) +pin of slumber near the ear. When he took the<span class="pagenum">[132]</span> +pin away he had no trouble in carrying the head; +and he made no delay but came to the castle at +daybreak, and threw the head to a herd of pigs +that belonged to the king. Then he went to the +king's son, and asked:</p> + +<p>"What happened to you last night?"</p> + +<p>"The princess came to me, and said that if I +wouldn't bring to her father's castle this morning +the head she was to kiss last night, my own head +would be on the last spike to-day."</p> + +<p>"Come out with me now to the pigs," said +Shaking-head.</p> + +<p>The two went out, and Shaking-head said: "Go +in among the pigs, and take the head with you to +the king; and a strange head it is to put before a +king."</p> + +<p>So the king's son went on his steed to the summer-house, +and gave the head to the king and his +daughter, and turning to the princess, said:</p> + +<p>"This is the head you kissed last night, and it's +not a nice looking head either."</p> + +<p>"You have my daughter won now entirely," said +the king, "and she is yours. And do you take that +head to the great dark hole that is out there on +one side of my castle grounds, and throw it down."</p> + +<p>The king's son mounted his steed, and rode off +with the head till he came to the hole going deep +into the earth. When he let down the head it +went to the bottom with such a roaring and such +a noise that every mare and cow and every beast +in the whole kingdom cast its young, such was the +terror that was caused by the noise of the head in +going to the bottom of the hole.</p> + +<p>When the head was put away the king's son +went back to the castle, and married the daughter +of King Behind the Gold. The wedding lasted<span class="pagenum">[133]</span> +nine days and nights, and the last night was better +than the first.</p> + +<p>When the wedding was over Shaking-head went +to the king, and said: "You have provided no fortune +for your daughter, and it is but right that you +should remember her."</p> + +<p>"I have plenty of gold and silver to give her," +said the king.</p> + +<p>"It isn't gold and silver that your son-in-law +wants, but men to stand against his enemies, when +they come on him."</p> + +<p>"I have more treasures than men," said King +Behind the Gold; "but I won't see my daughter +conquered for want of an army."</p> + +<p>They were satisfied with the king's word, and +next day took the road to Erin, and kept on their +way till they came opposite the grave-yard. Then +Shaking-head said to the king's son: "You are +no good, you have never told me a story since the +first day I saw you."</p> + +<p>"I have but one story to tell you, except what +happened since we met."</p> + +<p>"Well, tell me what happened before we met."</p> + +<p>"I was passing this place before I saw you," said +the king's son, "and four men were fighting over a +coffin. I spoke to them, and two of them said they +were burying the body of their brother which was +in the coffin, and the others said the dead man +owed them five pounds, and they wouldn't let the +coffin into the ground until they got the money. +I paid five pounds and the body was buried."</p> + +<p>"It was my body was in the coffin," said Shaking-head, +"and I came back into this world to do +you a good turn; and now I am going, and you'll +never see me again unless trouble is on you."</p> + +<p>Shaking-head disappeared, and the king's son<span class="pagenum">[134]</span> +went home. He wasn't with his father long till +the other three kings' sons heard he had come +back to Erin with the daughter of King Behind +the Gold. They sent word, saying: "We'll take +the head off you now, and put an end to your +father and yourself."</p> + +<p>The king's son went out to walk alone, and as +he was lamenting the fate he had brought on his +father, who should come along to meet him but +Shaking-head.</p> + +<p>"What trouble is on you now?" asked he.</p> + +<p>"Oh, three kings' sons are coming with their +fleets and armies to destroy my father and myself, +and what can we do with our one fleet and one +army?"</p> + +<p>"Well," said Shaking-head, "I'll settle that +for you without delay." Then he sent a message +straight to King Behind the Gold, who gave a fleet +and an army, and they came to Erin so quickly +that they were at the castle before the forces of +the three kings' sons. And when the three came +the battle began on sea and land at both sides of +the castle.</p> + +<p>The three fleets of the three kings' sons were +sunk, their armies destroyed, and the three heads +taken off themselves. When the battle was over +and the country safe the king resigned the castle +and power to his son, and the son of a king in a +province became king over all the land of Erin. +<span class="pagenum">[135]</span></p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<h2> + <a name="CHAPTER_12" id="CHAPTER_12"></a> + BIRTH OF FIN MACCUMHAIL. + <a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">10</a> +</h2> + +<p class="dropcap">CUMHAL MACART was a great champion +in the west of Erin, and it was prophesied of +him that if ever he married he would meet death +in the next battle he fought.</p> + +<p>For this reason he had no wife, and knew no +woman for a long time; till one day he saw the +king's daughter, who was so beautiful that he +forgot all fear and married her in secret.</p> + +<p>Next day after the marriage, news came that a +battle had to be fought.</p> + +<p>Now a Druid had told the king that his daughter's +son would take the kingdom from him; so he +made up his mind to look after the daughter, and +not let any man come near her.</p> + +<p>Before he went to the battle, Cumhal told his +mother everything,—told her of his relations +with the king's daughter.</p> + +<p>He said, "I shall be killed in battle to-day, +according to the prophecy of the Druid, and I'm +afraid if his daughter has a son the king will kill +the child, for the prophecy is that he will lose +the kingdom by the son of his own daughter. +Now, if the king's daughter has a son do you +hide and rear him, if you can; you will be his +only hope and stay."</p> + +<p>Cumhal was killed in the battle, and within that +year the king's daughter had a son.<span class="pagenum">[136]</span> +By command of his grandfather, the boy was +thrown out of the castle window into a loch, to +be drowned, on the day of his birth.</p> + +<p>The boy sank from sight; but after remaining +a while under the water, he rose again to the surface, +and came to land holding a live salmon in +his hand.</p> + +<p>The grandmother of the boy, Cumhal's mother, +stood watching on the shore, and said to herself +as she saw this: "He is my grandson, the true +son of my own child," and seizing the boy, she +rushed away with him, and vanished, before the +king's people could stop her.</p> + +<p>When the king heard that the old woman had +escaped with his daughter's son, he fell into a +terrible rage, and ordered all the male children +born that day in the kingdom to be put to death, +hoping in this way to kill his own grandson, and +save the crown for himself.</p> + +<p>After she had disappeared from the bank of +the loch, the old woman, Cumhal's mother, made +her way to a thick forest, where she spent that +night as best she could. Next day she came to +a great oak tree. Then she hired a man to cut +out a chamber in the tree.</p> + +<p>When all was finished, and there was a nice +room in the oak for herself and her grandson, and +a whelp of the same age as the boy, and which +she had brought with her from the castle, she +said to the man: "Give me the axe which you +have in your hand, there is something here that +I want to fix."</p> + +<p>The man gave the axe into her hand, and that +minute she swept the head off him, saying: +"You'll never tell any man about this place +now."<span class="pagenum">[137]</span> +One day the whelp ate some of the fine chippings +(<i>bran</i>) left cut by the carpenter from the +inside of the tree. The old woman said: "You'll +be called Bran from this out."</p> + +<p>All three lived in the tree together, and the old +woman did not take her grandson out till the end +of five years; and then he couldn't walk, he had +been sitting so long inside.</p> + +<p>When the old grandmother had taught the boy +to walk, she brought him one day to the brow of +a hill from which there was a long slope. She +took a switch and said: "Now, run down this +place. I will follow and strike you with this +switch, and coming up I will run ahead, and you +strike me as often as you can."</p> + +<p>The first time they ran down, his grandmother +struck him many times. In coming up the first +time, he did not strike her at all. Every time +they ran down she struck him less, and every time +they ran up he struck her more.</p> + +<p>They ran up and down for three days; and at +the end of that time she could not strike him +once, and he struck her at every step she took. +He had now become a great runner.</p> + +<p>When he was fifteen years of age, the old woman +went with him to a hurling match between the +forces of his grandfather and those of a neighboring +king. Both sides were equal in skill; and neither +was able to win, till the youth opposed his grandfather's +people. Then, he won every game. When +the ball was thrown in the air, he struck it coming +down, and so again and again,—never letting the +ball touch the ground till he had driven it through +the barrier.</p> + +<p>The old king, who was very angry, and greatly +mortified, at the defeat of his people, exclaimed, as<span class="pagenum">[138]</span> +he saw the youth, who was very fair and had white +hair: "Who is that <i>fin cumhal</i><a name="FNanchor_11_11" id="FNanchor_11_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">11</a> [white cap]?"</p> + +<p>"Ah, that is it; Fin will be his name, and Fin +MacCumhail he is," said the old woman.</p> + +<p>The king ordered his people to seize and put +the young man to death, on the spot. The old +woman hurried to the side of her grandson. They +slipped from the crowd and away they went, a hill +at a leap, a glen at a step, and thirty-two miles at +a running-leap. They ran a long distance, till Fin +grew tired; then the old grandmother took him on +her back, putting his feet into two pockets which +were in her dress, one on each side, and ran on +with the same swiftness as before, a hill at a leap, +a glen at a step, and thirty-two miles at a running-leap.</p> + +<p>After a time, the old woman felt the approach +of pursuit, and said to Fin: "Look behind, and +tell me what you see."</p> + +<p>"I see," said he, "a white horse with a champion +on his back."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no fear," said she; "a white horse has no +endurance; he can never catch us, we are safe +from him." And on they sped. A second time +she felt the approach of pursuit, and again she +said: "Look back, and see who is coming."</p> + +<p>Fin looked back, and said: "I see a warrior +riding on a brown horse."</p> + +<p>"Never fear," said the old woman; "there is +never a brown horse but is giddy, he cannot +overtake us." She rushed on as before. A third +time she said: "Look around, and see who is +coming now."<span class="pagenum">[139]</span> +Fin looked, and said: "I see a black warrior on +a black horse, following fast."</p> + +<p>"There is no horse so tough as a black horse," +said the grandmother. "There is no escape +from this one. My grandson, one or both of us +must die. I am old, my time has nearly come. +I will die, and you and Bran save yourselves. +(Bran had been with them all the time.) Right +here ahead is a deep bog; you jump off my back, +and escape as best you can. I'll jump into the +bog up to my neck; and when the king's men +come, I'll say that you are in the bog before me, +sunk out of sight, and I'm trying to find you. As +my hair and yours are the same color, they will +think my head good enough to carry back. They +will cut it off, and take it in place of yours, and +show it to the king; that will satisfy his anger."</p> + +<p>Fin slipped down, took farewell of his grandmother, +and hurried on with Bran. The old +woman came to the bog, jumped in, and sank to +her neck. The king's men were soon at the edge +of the bog, and the black rider called out to the +old woman: "Where is Fin?"</p> + +<p>"He is here in the bog before me, and I'm +trying can I find him."</p> + +<p>As the horsemen could not find Fin, and +thought the old woman's head would do to carry +back, they cut it off, and took it with them, saying: +"This will satisfy the king."</p> + +<p>Fin and Bran went on till they came to a great +cave, in which they found a herd of goats. At +the further end of the cave was a smouldering +fire. The two lay down to rest.</p> + +<p>A couple of hours later, in came a giant with +a salmon in his hand. This giant was of awful +height, he had but one eye, and that in the middle<span class="pagenum">[140]</span> +of his forehead, as large as the sun in heaven.</p> + +<p>When he saw Fin, he called out: "Here, take +this salmon and roast it; but be careful, for if you +raise a single blister on it I'll cut the head off you. +I've followed this salmon for three days and three +nights without stopping, and I never let it out of +my sight, for it is the most wonderful salmon in the +world."</p> + +<p>The giant lay down to sleep in the middle of the +cave. Fin spitted the salmon, and held it over +the fire.</p> + +<p>The minute the giant closed the one eye in his +head, he began to snore. Every time he drew +breath into his body, he dragged Fin, the spit, +the salmon, Bran, and all the goats to his mouth; +and every time he drove a breath out of himself, +he threw them back to the places they were in +before. Fin was drawn time after time to the +mouth of the giant with such force, that he was +in dread of going down his throat.</p> + +<p>When partly cooked, a blister rose on the +salmon. Fin pressed the place with his thumb, to +know could he break the blister, and hide from +the giant the harm that was done. But he burned +his thumb, and, to ease the pain, put it between +his teeth, and gnawed the skin to the flesh, the +flesh to the bone, the bone to the marrow; and +when he had tasted the marrow, he received the +knowledge of all things. Next moment, he was +drawn by the breath of the giant right up to his +face, and, knowing from his thumb what to do, he +plunged the hot spit into the sleeping eye of the +giant and destroyed it.</p> + +<p>That instant the giant with a single bound was +at the low entrance of the cave, and, standing with<span class="pagenum">[141]</span> +his back to the wall and a foot on each side of the +opening, roared out: "You'll not leave this place +alive."</p> + +<p>Now Fin killed the largest goat, skinned him as +quickly as he could, then putting the skin on himself +he drove the herd to where the giant stood; +the goats passed out one by one between his legs. +When the great goat came the giant took him by +the horns. Fin slipped from the skin, and ran +out.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you've escaped," said the giant, "but before +we part let me make you a present."</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid to go near you," said Fin; "if you +wish to give me a present, put it out this way, and +then go back."</p> + +<p>The giant placed a ring on the ground, then +went back. Fin took up the ring and put it on +the end of his little finger above the first joint. It +clung so firmly that no man in the world could +have taken it off.</p> + +<p>The giant then called out, "Where are +you?"</p> + +<p>"On Fin's finger," cried the ring. That instant +the giant sprang at Fin and almost came +down on his head, thinking in this way to crush +him to bits. Fin sprang to a distance. Again the +giant asked, "Where are you?"</p> + +<p>"On Fin's finger," answered the ring.</p> + +<p>Again the giant made a leap, coming down just +in front of Fin. Many times he called and many +times almost caught Fin, who could not escape +with the ring on his finger. While in this terrible +struggle, not knowing how to escape, Bran ran +up and asked:</p> + +<p>"Why don't you chew your thumb?"<span class="pagenum">[142]</span> +Fin bit his thumb to the marrow, and then knew +what to do. He took the knife with which he had +skinned the goat, cut off his finger at the first +joint, and threw it, with the ring still on, into a +deep bog near by.</p> + +<p>Again the giant called out, "Where are you?" +and the ring answered, "On Fin's finger."</p> + +<p>Straightway the giant sprang towards the voice, +sank to his shoulders in the bog, and stayed there.</p> + +<p>Fin with Bran now went on his way, and travelled +till he reached a deep and thick wood, where +a thousand horses were drawing timber, and men +felling and preparing it.</p> + +<p>"What is this?" asked Fin of the overseer of +the workmen.</p> + +<p>"Oh, we are building a dun (a castle) for the +king; we build one every day, and every night it is +burned to the ground. Our king has an only +daughter; he will give her to any man who will +save the dun, and he'll leave him the kingdom at +his death. If any man undertakes to save the dun +and fails, his life must pay for it; the king will +cut his head off. The best champions in Erin have +tried and failed; they are now in the king's dungeons, +a whole army of them, waiting the king's +pleasure. He's going to cut the heads off them +all in one day."</p> + +<p>"Why don't you chew your thumb?" asked +Bran.</p> + +<p>Fin chewed his thumb to the marrow, and then +knew that on the eastern side of the world there +lived an old hag with her three sons, and every +evening at nightfall she sent the youngest of these +to burn the king's dun.</p> + +<p>"I will save the king's dun," said Fin.</p> + +<p>"Well," said the overseer, "better men than +you have tried and lost their lives."<span class="pagenum">[143]</span> +"Oh," said Fin, "I'm not afraid; I'll try for +the sake of the king's daughter."</p> + +<p>Now Fin, followed by Bran, went with the overseer +to the king. "I hear you will give your +daughter to the man who saves your dun," said +Fin.</p> + +<p>"I will," said the king; "but if he fails I must +have his head."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Fin, "I'll risk my head for the sake +of your daughter. If I fail I'm satisfied." The +king gave Fin food and drink; he supped, and +after supper went to the dun.</p> + +<p>"Why don't you chew your thumb?" said Bran; +"then you'll know what to do." He did. Then Bran +took her place on the roof, waiting for the old +woman's son. Now the old woman in the east +told her youngest son to hurry on with his +torches, burn the dun, and come back without +delay; for the stirabout was boiling and he must +not be too late for supper.</p> + +<p>He took the torches, and shot off through the +air with a wonderful speed. Soon he was in sight +of the king's dun, threw the torches upon the +thatched roof to set it on fire as usual.</p> + +<p>That moment Bran gave the torches such a push +with her shoulders, that they fell into the stream +which ran around the dun, and were put out. +"Who is this," cried the youngest son of the old +hag, "who has dared to put out my lights, and +interfere with my hereditary right?"</p> + +<p>"I," said Fin, who stood in front of him. Then +began a terrible battle between Fin and the old +woman's son. Bran came down from the dun to +help Fin; she bit and tore his enemy's back, stripping +the skin and flesh from his head to his +heels.</p> + +<p>After a terrible struggle such as had not been in<span class="pagenum">[144]</span> +the world before that night, Fin cut the head off +his enemy. But for Bran, Fin could never have +conquered.</p> + +<p>The time for the return of her son had passed; +supper was ready. The old woman, impatient and +angry, said to the second son: "You take torches +and hurry on, see why your brother loiters. I'll +pay him for this when he comes home! But be +careful and don't do like him, or you'll have your +pay too. Hurry back, for the stirabout is boiling +and ready for supper."</p> + +<p>He started off, was met and killed exactly as his +brother, except that he was stronger and the battle +fiercer. But for Bran, Fin would have lost his life +that night.</p> + +<p>The old woman was raging at the delay, and +said to her eldest son, who had not been out of +the house for years: (It was only in case of the +greatest need that she sent him. He had a cat's +head, and was called Pus an Chuine, "Puss of the +Corner;" he was the eldest and strongest of all +the brothers.) "Now take torches, go and see +what delays your brothers; I'll pay them for this +when they come home."</p> + +<p>The eldest brother shot off through the air, +came to the king's dun, and threw his torches upon +the roof. They had just singed the straw a little, +when Bran pushed them off with such force that +they fell into the stream and were quenched.</p> + +<p>"Who is this," screamed Cat-head, "who dares +to interfere with my ancestral right?"</p> + +<p>"I," shouted Fin. Then the struggle began +fiercer than with the second brother. Bran helped +from behind, tearing the flesh from his head to his +heels; but at length Cat-head fastened his teeth +into Fin's breast, biting and gnawing till Fin cut<span class="pagenum">[145]</span> +the head off. The body fell to the ground, but the +head lived, gnawing as terribly as before. Do +what they could it was impossible to kill it. Fin +hacked and cut, but could neither kill nor pull it +off. When nearly exhausted, Bran said:</p> + +<p>"Why don't you chew your thumb?"</p> + +<p>Fin chewed his thumb, and reaching the marrow +knew that the old woman in the east was ready to +start with torches to find her sons, and burn the +dun herself, and that she had a vial of liquid with +which she could bring the sons to life; and that +nothing could free him from Cat-head but the old +woman's blood.</p> + +<p>After midnight the old hag, enraged at the delay +of her sons, started and shot through the air like +lightning, more swiftly than her sons. She threw +her torches from afar upon the roof of the dun; but +Bran as before hurled them into the stream.</p> + +<p>Now the old woman circled around in the air +looking for her sons. Fin was getting very weak +from pain and loss of blood, for Cat-head was +biting at his breast all the time.</p> + +<p>Bran called out: "Rouse yourself, oh, Fin; use +all your power or we are lost! If the old hag +gets a drop from the vial upon the bodies of her +sons, they will come to life, and then we're +done for."</p> + +<p>Thus roused, Fin with one spring reached the +old woman in the air, and swept the bottle from +her grasp; which falling upon the ground was +emptied.</p> + +<p>The old hag gave a scream which was heard all +over the world, came to the ground and closed +with Fin. Then followed a battle greater than the +world had ever known before that night, or has +ever seen since. Water sprang out of gray rocks,<span class="pagenum">[146]</span> +cows cast their calves even when they had none, +and hard rushes grew soft in the remotest corner +of Erin, so desperate was the fighting and so +awful, between Fin and the old hag. Fin would +have died that night but for Bran.</p> + +<p>Just as daylight was coming Fin swept the head +off the old woman, caught some of her blood, and +rubbed it around Cat-head, who fell off dead.</p> + +<p>He rubbed his own wounds with the blood and +was cured; then rubbed some on Bran, who had +been singed with the torches, and she was as well +as ever. Fin, exhausted with fighting, dropped +down and fell asleep.</p> + +<p>While he was sleeping the chief steward of the +king came to the dun, found it standing safe and +sound, and seeing Fin lying there asleep knew that +he had saved it. Bran tried to waken Fin, pulled +and tugged, but could not rouse him.</p> + +<p>The steward went to the king, and said: "I +have saved the dun, and I claim the reward."</p> + +<p>"It shall be given you," answered the king; and +straightway the steward was recognized as the +king's son-in-law, and orders were given to make +ready for the wedding.</p> + +<p>Bran had listened to what was going on, and +when her master woke, exactly at midday, she told +him of all that was taking place in the castle of the +king.</p> + +<p>Fin went to the king, and said: "I have saved +your dun, and I claim the reward."</p> + +<p>"Oh," said the king, "my steward claimed the +reward, and it has been given to him."</p> + +<p>"He had nothing to do with saving the dun; I +saved it," said Fin.</p> + +<p>"Well," answered the king, "he is the first man +who told me of its safety and claimed the reward."<span class="pagenum">[147]</span> +"Bring him here: let me look at him," said Fin.</p> + +<p>He was sent for, and came. "Did you save the +king's dun?" asked Fin. "I did," said the +steward.</p> + +<p>"You did not, and take that for your lies," said +Fin; and striking him with the edge of his open +hand he swept the head off his body, dashing it +against the other side of the room, flattening it +like paste on the wall.</p> + +<p>"You are the man," said the king to Fin, "who +saved the dun; yours is the reward. All the +champions, and there is many a man of them, who +have failed to save it are in the dungeons of my +fortress; their heads must be cut off before the +wedding takes place."</p> + +<p>"Will you let me see them?" asked Fin.</p> + +<p>"I will," said the king.</p> + +<p>Fin went down to the men, and found the first +champions of Erin in the dungeons. "Will you +obey me in all things if I save you from death?" +said Fin. "We will," said they. Then he went +back to the king and asked:</p> + +<p>"Will you give me the lives of these champions +of Erin, in place of your daughter's hand?"</p> + +<p>"I will," said the king.</p> + +<p>All the champions were liberated, and left the +king's castle that day. Ever after they followed +the orders of Fin, and these were the beginning of +his forces and the first of the Fenians of Erin. +<span class="pagenum">[148]</span></p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<h2> + <a name="CHAPTER_13" id="CHAPTER_13"></a> + FIN MACCUMHAIL AND THE FENIANS OF ERIN IN THE CASTLE OF FEAR DUBH. +</h2> + +<p class="dropcap">IT was the custom with Fin MacCumhail and +the Fenians of Erin, when a stranger from +any part of the world came to their castle, not to +ask him a question for a year and a day.</p> + +<p>On a time, a champion came to Fin and his +men, and remained with them. He was not at all +pleasant or agreeable.</p> + +<p>At last Fin and his men took counsel together; +they were much annoyed because their guest was +so dull and morose, never saying a word, always +silent.</p> + +<p>While discussing what kind of man he was, Diarmuid +Duivne offered to try him; so one evening +when they were eating together, Diarmuid came +and snatched from his mouth the hind-quarter of +a bullock, which he was picking.</p> + +<p>Diarmuid pulled at one part of the quarter,—pulled +with all his strength, but only took the +part that he seized, while the other kept the part +he held. All laughed; the stranger laughed too, +as heartily as any. It was the first laugh they had +heard from him.</p> + +<p>The strange champion saw all their feats of arms +and practised with them, till the year and a day +were over. Then he said to Fin and his men:</p> + +<p>"I have spent a pleasant year in your company; +you gave me good treatment, and the least<span class="pagenum">[149]</span> +I can do now is to give you a feast at my own +castle."</p> + +<p>No one had asked what his name was up to that +time. Fin now asked his name. He answered: +"My name is Fear Dubh, of Alba."</p> + +<p>Fin accepted the invitation; and they appointed +the day for the feast, which was to be in Erin, since +Fear Dubh did not wish to trouble them to go to +Alban. He took leave of his host and started for +home.</p> + +<p>When the day for the feast came, Fin and the +chief men of the Fenians of Erin set out for the +castle of Fear Dubh.</p> + +<p>They went, a glen at a step, a hill at a leap, and +thirty-two miles at a running leap, till they came +to the grand castle where the feast was to be +given.</p> + +<p>They went in; everything was ready, seats at +the table, and every man's name at his seat in the +same order as at Fin's castle. Diarmuid, who +was always very sportive,—fond of hunting, and +paying court to women, was not with them; he had +gone to the mountains with his dogs.</p> + +<p>All sat down, except Conan Maol MacMorna +(never a man spoke well of him); no seat was +ready for him, for he used to lie on the flat of +his back on the floor, at Fin's castle.</p> + +<p>When all were seated the door of the castle +closed of itself. Fin then asked the man nearest +the door, to rise and open it. The man tried to +rise; he pulled this way and that, over and hither, +but he couldn't get up. Then the next man tried, +and the next, and so on, till the turn came to Fin +himself, who tried in vain.</p> + +<p>Now, whenever Fin and his men were in trouble +and great danger it was their custom to raise a<span class="pagenum">[150]</span> +cry of distress (a voice of howling), heard all +over Erin. Then all men knew that they were +in peril of death; for they never raised this cry +except in the last extremity.</p> + +<p>Fin's son, Fialan, who was three years old and +in the cradle, heard the cry, was roused, and +jumped up.</p> + +<p>"Get me a sword!" said he to the nurse. "My +father and his men are in distress; I must go to +aid them."</p> + +<p>"What could you do, poor little child."</p> + +<p>Fialan looked around, saw an old rusty sword-blade +laid aside for ages. He took it down, gave +it a snap; it sprang up so as to hit his arm, and +all the rust dropped off; the blade was pure as +shining silver.</p> + +<p>"This will do," said he; and then he set out +towards the place where he heard the cry, going +a glen at a step, a hill at a leap, and thirty-two +miles at a running leap, till he came to the door +of the castle, and cried out.</p> + +<p>Fin answered from inside, "Is that you, my +child?"</p> + +<p>"It is," said Fialan.</p> + +<p>"Why did you come?"</p> + +<p>"I heard your cry, and how could I stay at +home, hearing the cry of my father and the +Fenians of Erin!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, my child, you cannot help us much."</p> + +<p>Fialan struck the door powerfully with his +sword, but no use. Then, one of the men inside +asked Fin to chew his thumb, to know what was +keeping them in, and why they were bound.</p> + +<p>Fin chewed his thumb, from skin to blood, from +blood to bone, from bone to marrow, and discovered +that Fear Dubh had built the castle by<span class="pagenum">[151]</span> +magic, and that he was coming himself with a +great force to cut the head off each one of them. +(These men from Alba had always a grudge +against the champions of Erin.)</p> + +<p>Said Fin to Fialan: "Do you go now, and +stand at the ford near the castle, and meet Fear +Dubh."</p> + +<p>Fialan went and stood in the middle of the ford. +He wasn't long there when he saw Fear Dubh +coming with a great army.</p> + +<p>"Leave the ford, my child," said Fear Dubh, +who knew him at once. "I have not come to +harm your father. I spent a pleasant year at his +castle. I've only come to show him honor."</p> + +<p>"I know why you have come," answered Fialan. +"You've come to destroy my father and all his +men, and I'll not leave this ford while I can +hold it."</p> + +<p>"Leave the ford; I don't want to harm your +father, I want to do him honor. If you don't let +us pass my men will kill you," said Fear Dubh.</p> + +<p>"I will not let you pass so long as I'm alive +before you," said Fialan.</p> + +<p>The men faced him; and if they did Fialan +kept his place, and a battle commenced, the like +of which was never seen before that day. Fialan +went through the army as a hawk through a flock +of sparrows on a March morning, till he killed +every man except Fear Dubh. Fear Dubh told +him again to leave the ford, he didn't want to +harm his father.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" said Fialan, "I know well what you +want."</p> + +<p>"If you don't leave that place I'll make you +leave it!" said Fear Dubh. Then they closed in +combat; and such a combat was never seen before<span class="pagenum">[152]</span> +between any two warriors. They made springs to +rise through the centre of hard gray rocks, cows +to cast their calves whether they had them or not. +All the horses of the country were racing about +and neighing in dread and fear, and all created +things were terrified at the sound and clamor of +the fight, till the weapons of Fear Dubh went to +pieces in the struggle, and Fialan made two halves +of his own sword.</p> + +<p>Now they closed in wrestling. In the first round +Fialan put Fear Dubh to his knees in the hard +bottom of the river; the second round he put him +to his hips, and the third, to his shoulders.</p> + +<p>"Now," said he, "I have you," giving him a +stroke of the half of his sword, which cut the +head off him.</p> + +<p>Then Fialan went to the door of the castle and +told his father what he had done.</p> + +<p>Fin chewed his thumb again, and knew what +other danger was coming. "My son," said he to +Fialan, "Fear Dubh has a younger brother more +powerful than he was; that brother is coming +against us now with greater forces than those +which you have destroyed."</p> + +<p>As soon as Fialan heard these words he hurried +to the ford, and waited till the second army came +up. He destroyed this army as he had the other, +and closed with the second brother in a fight +fiercer and more terrible than the first; but at last +he thrust him to his armpits in the hard bottom +of the river and cut off his head.</p> + +<p>Then he went to the castle, and told his father +what he had done. A third time Fin chewed his +thumb, and said: "My son, a third army more to +be dreaded than the other two is coming now to +destroy us, and at the head of it is the youngest<span class="pagenum">[153]</span> +brother of Fear Dubh, the most desperate and +powerful of the three."</p> + +<p>Again Fialan rushed off to the ford; and, though +the work was greater than before, he left not a +man of the army alive. Then he closed with the +youngest brother of Fear Dubh, and if the first +and second battles were terrible this was more terrible +by far; but at last he planted the youngest +brother up to his armpits in the hard bottom of +the river, and swept the head off him.</p> + +<p>Now, after the heat and struggle of combat +Fialan was in such a rage that he lost his mind +from fury, not having any one to fight against; and +if the whole world had been there before him he +would have gone through it and conquered it all.</p> + +<p>But having no one to face him he rushed along +the river-bank, tearing the flesh from his own +body. Never had such madness been seen in any +created being before that day.</p> + +<p>Diarmuid came now and knocked at the door of +the castle, having the dog Bran with him, and +asked Fin what had caused him to raise the cry +of distress.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Diarmuid," said Fin, "we are all fastened +in here to be killed. Fialan has destroyed three +armies, and Fear Dubh with his two brothers. +He is raging now along the bank of the river; +you must not go near him, for he would tear you +limb from limb. At this moment he wouldn't spare +me, his own father; but after a while he will cease +from raging and die down; then you can go. +The mother of Fear Dubh is coming, and will +soon be at the ford. She is more violent, more +venomous, more to be dreaded, a greater warrior +than her sons. The chief weapon she has are the +nails on her fingers; each nail is seven perches<span class="pagenum">[154]</span> +long, of the hardest steel on earth. She is coming +in the air at this moment with the speed of a hawk, +and she has a kŭŕan (a small vessel), with liquor +in it, which has such power that if she puts three +drops of it on the mouths of her sons they will rise +up as well as ever; and if she brings them to life +there is nothing to save us.</p> + +<p>"Go to the ford; she will be hovering over the +corpses of the three armies to know can she find +her sons, and as soon as she sees them she will +dart down and give them the liquor. You must +rise with a mighty bound upon her, dash the +kŭŕan out of her hand and spill the liquor.</p> + +<p>"If you can kill her save her blood, for nothing +in the world can free us from this place and open +the door of the castle but the blood of the old +hag. I'm in dread you'll not succeed, for she is +far more terrible than all her sons together. Go +now; Fialan is dying away, and the old woman is +coming; make no delay."</p> + +<p>Diarmuid hurried to the ford, stood watching +a while; then he saw high in the air something no +larger than a hawk. As it came nearer and nearer +he saw it was the old woman. She hovered high +in the air over the ford. At last she saw her sons, +and was swooping down, when Diarmuid rose with +a bound into the air and struck the vial a league +out of her hand.</p> + +<p>The old hag gave a shriek that was heard +to the eastern world, and screamed: "Who has +dared to interfere with me or my sons?"</p> + +<p>"I," answered Diarmuid; "and you'll not go +further till I do to you what has been done to +your sons."</p> + +<p>The fight began; and if there ever was a fight, +before or since, it could not be more terrible than<span class="pagenum">[155]</span> +this one; but great as was the power of Diarmuid +he never could have conquered but for Bran the +dog.</p> + +<p>The old woman with her nails stripped the skin +and flesh from Diarmuid almost to the vitals. +But Bran tore the skin and flesh off the old +woman's back from her head to her heels.</p> + +<p>From the dint of blood-loss and fighting, Diarmuid +was growing faint. Despair came on him, +and he was on the point of giving way, when a +little robin flew near to him, and sitting on a bush, +spoke, saying:</p> + +<p>"Oh, Diarmuid, take strength; rise and sweep +the head off the old hag, or Fin and the Fenians +of Erin are no more."</p> + +<p>Diarmuid took courage, and with his last +strength made one great effort, swept the head +off the old hag and caught her blood in a vessel. +He rubbed some on his own wounds,—they were +cured; then he cured Bran.</p> + +<p>Straightway he took the blood to the castle, +rubbed drops of it on the door, which opened, and +he went in.</p> + +<p>All laughed with joy at the rescue. He freed +Fin and his men by rubbing the blood on the +chairs; but when he came as far as Conan Maol +the blood gave out.</p> + +<p>All were going away. "Why should you leave +me here after you;" cried Conan Maol, "I would +rather die at once than stay here for a lingering +death. Why don't you, Oscar, and you, Gol MacMorna, +come and tear me out of this place; anyhow +you'll be able to drag the arms out of me +and kill me at once; better that than leave me to +die alone."</p> + +<p>Oscar and Gol took each a hand, braced their<span class="pagenum">[156]</span> +feet against his feet, put forth all their strength +and brought him standing; but if they did, he left +all the skin and much of the flesh from the back of +his head to his heels on the floor behind him. He +was covered with blood, and by all accounts was +in a terrible condition, bleeding and wounded.</p> + +<p>Now there were sheep grazing near the castle. +The Fenians ran out, killed and skinned the largest +and best of the flock, and clapped the fresh +skin on Conan's back; and such was the healing +power in the sheep, and the wound very fresh, that +Conan's back healed, and he marched home with +the rest of the men, and soon got well; and if he +did, they sheared off his back wool enough every +year to make a pair of stockings for each one of +the Fenians of Erin, and for Fin himself.</p> + +<p>And that was a great thing to do and useful, for +wool was scarce in Erin in those days. Fin and +his men lived pleasantly and joyously for some +time; and if they didn't, may we. +<span class="pagenum">[157]</span></p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<h2> + <a name="CHAPTER_14" id="CHAPTER_14"></a> + FIN MACCUMHAIL AND THE KNIGHT OF THE FULL AXE. +</h2> + +<p class="dropcap">THERE was a day when Fin went on an expedition +by himself. He walked out to his +currochán on the seashore, gave it a kick that +sent it out nine leagues from land, then with a +spring he jumped into the boat and rowed over +the sea.</p> + +<p>After he had gone some distance he saw a giant +coming towards him, walking through the water, +which did not reach his knees. Looking up, Fin +could see nothing between the head of the giant +and the sky.</p> + +<p>With one step the giant was in front of Fin, +and it seemed that he and his boat would be lost +in a moment between the legs of the terrible +monster.</p> + +<p>"Poor, little helpless creature! what brings you +here in my way?" asked the giant. He was just +going to lay hold of the boat and toss it far off to +one side, when Fin called out:</p> + +<p>"Won't you give fair play; just let me put +foot on solid land, and see what will happen. +Don't attack me here; I'm not afraid to meet +you once I have earth for my two feet to stand +on."</p> + +<p>"If that is all you want I can take you to land +very soon." And seizing the boat as he would a +grass-blade, the giant drew it to the shore of the +sea opposite to that from which Fin started, and +in front of his own castle.<span class="pagenum">[158]</span> +"What will you do now?" asked the giant.</p> + +<p>"I'll fight with you," said Fin.</p> + +<p>The giant brought out his battle-axe, which +had a blade seven acres in size. Fin was ready +with his sword, and now began a most terrible +battle.</p> + +<p>Fin faced the giant, slashing at him with his +sword, and when the giant made an offer of the +axe at him, Fin would dart to one side; and when +the axe missing him struck the ground, it went into +the handle. The giant was a long time striving +to know could he draw out the axe; and while at +this Fin ran behind and cut steps with his sword +into the leg of his enemy; and by the time the +giant had the axe out of the ground, Fin was ready +for him again and in front of him, striking and vexing +him with his sword. It was another long while +till a blow came down; and when the axe went +into the ground again, Fin ran behind a second +time, cut more steps in the leg and body of the +giant, so as to reach his neck and cut the head +off him.</p> + +<p>When the axe was coming to the ground the +third time, Fin slipped and fell under one corner +of it, and between the feet of the giant, who closed +his legs with a clap that was heard to the end of +the Western World. He thought to catch Fin; +but Fin was too quick for him, and though badly +hurt he was able to cut more steps and climb to +the neck of the giant. With one blow he swept +the head off him,—and a big head it was; by all +accounts as broad as the moon.</p> + +<p>The battle was fought in front of the giant's +castle. Fin was terribly wounded; the axe had +cut that deep that his bowels were to be seen. +He dropped at the side of the giant, and lay helpless +on the ground.<span class="pagenum">[159]</span> +After the fall of the giant twelve women came +out of his castle, and when they drew near +and saw him dead they laughed from joy; but +seeing Fin with his wound they began to +mourn.</p> + +<p>"Oh, then," said Fin, "is it making sport of me +you are after the evil day that I've had?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed it is not. We are twelve daughters of +kings, stolen from our fathers. We saw the giant +fall, and came here to look at him dead; we grieve +for you and mourn for the sorrow that is on you, +but we are so glad the giant is killed that we +cannot help laughing."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Fin, "if you mourn for me and +are glad that I have killed the giant, will you carry +me to my currochán, lay me in it, and push it out +to sea? The waves may bear me home, and I +care for nothing else if only one day my bones +may come to land in Erin."</p> + +<p>The twelve women took him up carefully and +put him in the boat, and when the tide came they +pushed it out to sea.</p> + +<p>Fin lay in the bottom of the boat barely alive. +It floated along, and he was borne over the waves. +Hither and thither went the boat, till at last one +day a blackbird came down on the body of Fin +MacCumhail, and began to pick at his entrails. +The blackbird said:</p> + +<p>"Many a long day have I watched and waited +for this chance, and glad am I to have it now."</p> + +<p>That moment the blackbird turned into a little +man not more than three feet high. Then he +said: "I was under a Druidic spell, to be a blackbird +till I should get three bites of fat from the +entrails of Fin MacCumhail. I have followed you +everywhere; have watched you in battle and hunt, +on sea and land, but never have I been able to<span class="pagenum">[160]</span> +get the chance till this day. Now I have it, I +have also the power to make you well again."</p> + +<p>He put Fin's entrails into their proper place, +rubbed him with an ointment that he had, and +Fin was well as ever.</p> + +<p>The little man, who said his name was Ridiri +na lan tur (Knight of the Full Axe) had a small +axe, his only weapon. As they floated along he +said to Fin: "I wish to show you some strange +things, such as you have never seen in Erin. +We are near a country where the king's daughter +is to be married to-night. We will prevent the +ceremony."</p> + +<p>"Oh no," said Fin, "I would rather go to my +own home."</p> + +<p>"Never mind," said the little man, "nothing +can harm you in my company; come with me. +This is a wonderful king, and he has a wonderful +daughter. It's a strange country, and I want to +show you the place. We'll tell him that you are +Fin MacCumhail, monarch of Erin; that we have +been shipwrecked, and ask for a night's shelter."</p> + +<p>Fin consented at last, and with the Knight of +the Full Axe landed, drew the boat on shore, and +went to the king's castle. There was noise and +tumult; great crowds of people had come to do +honor to the king's daughter. Never before had +such preparations been made in that kingdom.</p> + +<p>The Knight of the Full Axe knocked at the +door, and asked admission for himself and Fin +MacCumhail, monarch of Erin, shipwrecked on +that shore. (The country was north of Erin, far +out in the sea.)</p> + +<p>The attendants said: "No strangers may enter +here, but there is a great house further on; go +there and welcome."</p> + +<p>The house to which they were directed was<span class="pagenum">[161]</span> +twenty-one miles long, ten miles wide, and about +five miles distant from the castle; inhabited by the +strangest men in the world, body-guards of the king, +fed from the king's house, and a terrible feeding it +was,—human flesh. All strangers who came to +the king's castle were sent to that house, where the +guards tore them to pieces and ate them up.</p> + +<p>These guards had to be fed well; if not they +would devour the whole country.</p> + +<p>With Fin and the Knight of the Full Axe there +went a messenger, who was careful not to go near +the house; he pointed it out from a distance, and +ran home.</p> + +<p>Fin and the knight knocked at the door. When +it was opened all inside laughed; as they laughed, +Fin could see their hearts and livers they were so +glad. The Knight of the Full Axe asked, "Why +do you laugh in this way?"</p> + +<p>"Oh," answered they, "we laugh because you +are so small you'll not make a mouthful for one +of us."</p> + +<p>The guards barred the door and put a prop +against it. Now the knight put a second prop +against the door; the guards asked, "Why do you +do that?"</p> + +<p>"I do it so none of you may escape me," answered +the knight. Then seizing two of the +largest of the guards, one in each hand, he used +them as clubs and killed the others with them. +He ran the length of the house, striking right and +left, till he walloped the life out of all that was in +it, but the two. To them he said: "I spare you +to clean out the house, and make the place fit +for the monarch of Erin to spend the night in. +Bring rushes, and make ready to receive Fin +MacCumhail."</p> + +<p>And from wherever they got them, they brought<span class="pagenum">[162]</span> +two baskets of rushes, each basket as big as a +mountain, and spread litter on the ground two feet +deep through the whole house; and then at the +knight's command they brought a pile of turf, +and made a grand fire.</p> + +<p>Late in the evening the king's attendants brought +food, which they left near the house of the guards; +these monsters were fed twice a day, morning and +evening. To their great surprise the attendants +saw the bodies of the dead giants piled up outside +the house; they ran off quickly to tell the news.</p> + +<p>Now the Knight of the Full Axe sat by the fire. +The two guards that he had spared tried to chat +and be agreeable; but the knight snapped at them +and said: "What company are you for the monarch +of Erin?" Then he caught the two, squeezed +the life out of them, and threw them on the pile +outside.</p> + +<p>"Now," said the knight to Fin, "there is no +suitable food for you; I must get you something +good to eat from the castle."</p> + +<p>So off he started, reached the castle quickly, +knocked at the door, and demanded the best of +food, saying, "'Tis fine treatment you are giving +the monarch of Erin to-night!"</p> + +<p>They trembled at the voice of the little man, +and without words or delay gave him the best +they had in the castle. He carried it back and +placed it before Fin. "Now," said he, "they +have given us no wine; we must have wine, and +that of the best."</p> + +<p>"Oh, we have no need of wine!" said Fin; +but off went the knight.</p> + +<p>Again he demanded supplies at the castle. He +took a hogshead of the best wine, threw it over +his shoulder, and, as he hurried out, he struck a<span class="pagenum">[163]</span> +jamb off the door and swept it along with the +hogshead.</p> + +<p>"Now," said the knight, after they had eaten +and drunk, "'tis too bad for the monarch of Erin +to sleep on rushes; he should have the best bed +in the land."</p> + +<p>"Oh, trouble yourself no further," said Fin; +"better sleep on rushes than all this noise."</p> + +<p>But the knight would listen to nothing; away +he went to the castle, and shouted: "Give me the +best bed in this place! I want it for Fin MacCumhail, +the monarch of Erin."</p> + +<p>They gave him the bed in a moment. With +hurried steps he was back, and said to Fin: "Rest +on this bed. Now I'll stop the wedding of the +princess; you may take her to Erin if you like."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that would not be right! I am well as I +am," said Fin, who was getting in dread of the +knight himself.</p> + +<p>"No, you'd better have the princess," and off +rushed the knight. He entered the castle. All +were in terror; hither and thither they hurried, not +knowing what to do. The Knight of the Full +Axe seized the princess. "The monarch of Erin +is a better man than your bridegroom," said he; +and clapping her under his arm, away he went. +Not a man had the courage to stir.</p> + +<p>All was confusion and fear in the king's castle. +The princess was gone and no one could save her. +All were in terrible dread, knowing what had been +done at the long house.</p> + +<p>At last an old hag, one of the queen's waiting-women, +said: "I'll go and see what has become +of the princess. I'll go on the chimney and look +down."</p> + +<p>Off ran the hag, and never rested till she was on<span class="pagenum">[164]</span> +the top of the chimney, sticking down her head to +know what could she see. The chimney was wide, +for the king's guards had cooked all their food +below on the fire. The Knight of the Full Axe +was looking up at the time and saw the two eyes +staring down at him.</p> + +<p>"Go on out of that," cried he, flinging his axe; +which stuck in the old woman's forehead. Off she +rushed to the castle. She had seen nothing of +the princess; all she knew was that a little man +was sitting by the fire warming himself, that he +had thrown his axe at her, and it had stuck in +her forehead.</p> + +<p>At daylight the knight spoke to Fin, who rose +at once. "Now," said he, "I have no strength +left; all my strength is in the axe. While I had +that I could do anything, now I can do nothing. +We are in great danger; but there is such dread of +us on the people here that we may mend matters +yet. Do you put on the dress of a leech, get herbs +and vials, and pretend you have great skill in healing. +Go to the castle, and say you can take the +axe out of the old hag's head. No man there can +do that without killing her; she will die the minute +it is drawn. Get at her, seize the axe, pull it out, +and with it you will have the greatest power on +earth."</p> + +<p>Fin went to the castle, and said: "I am a great +doctor. I can take the axe out of the old woman's +head without trouble."</p> + +<p>They took him to the hag, who was sitting upright +in bed; her head was so sore she couldn't lie +down. He felt her head around the axe, sent the +people away; when they were gone he took hold +of the handle. With one snap he made two halves +of the old woman's head.<span class="pagenum">[165]</span> +Fin ran out with the axe, leaving the old hag +dead behind him. He never stopped till he came +where he had left the knight.</p> + +<p>Fin MacCumhail was now the strongest man on +earth, and the knight the weakest. "You may +keep the axe," said the little man; "I shall not +envy you, but will go with you and you will +protect me."</p> + +<p>"No," said Fin, "it shall never be said that I +took the axe from you, though I know its value +and feel its power."</p> + +<p>The knight was glad to get back his axe, and +now the two set out for Erin. Fin kicked the +boat three leagues from land, and with a bound +they both came down in it, and floated on till they +saw the coast of Erin. Then the little man said:</p> + +<p>"I must leave you now. Though of your kin, +I cannot land in Erin. But if you need me at +any time you have only to look over your right +shoulder, call my name, and you will see me +before you."</p> + +<p>Now Fin sprang ashore; he had been absent +a year and more, and no man knew where he was +while gone. All thought him lost. Great was the +gladness when Fin came home, and told the +Fenians of Erin of what he had seen and what +he had done. +<span class="pagenum">[166]</span></p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<h2> + <a name="CHAPTER_15" id="CHAPTER_15"></a> + GILLA NA GRAKIN AND FIN MACCUMHAIL. +</h2> + +<p class="dropcap">THERE was a blacksmith in Dun Kinealy beyond +Killybegs, and he had two young men +serving him whose names were Césa MacRi na +Tulach and Lun Dubh MacSmola.</p> + +<p>When their time was up the young men settled +with the blacksmith and took their pay of him. +After they had eaten breakfast in the morning +they went away together.</p> + +<p>When they had gone some distance from the +house they changed their gait, so that when they +took one step forward they took two backwards; +and when evening came they were not five perches +away from the house where they had eaten breakfast +in the morning.</p> + +<p>Then one said to the other: "I suppose what +is on one of us is on the other."</p> + +<p>"What's that?" asked the first.</p> + +<p>"We are both in love with Scéhide ni Wánanan."</p> + +<p>"That is true," said the other, "we are both in +love with the blacksmith's maid."</p> + +<p>When this was said they turned and went back +to the house. The blacksmith welcomed them, +and was glad.</p> + +<p>"You need not welcome us," said they; "we +have not come back to you to seek hire; but we +are both in love with Scéhide ni Wánanan, and +you'll have to settle the matter for us."</p> + +<p>"Well," said the blacksmith, "I can do that.<span class="pagenum">[167]</span> +We'll open the two doors of the forge, and let you +and the maiden go in and stand in the middle +of the place. Then do you two go out, one at +each door, and the man she'll follow will have +her."</p> + +<p>The three came in,—one man went out at each +door of the forge; Scéhide followed Lun Dubh.</p> + +<p>When he saw this Césa spoke up, and said: +"I'm willing to leave her with you; but turn back +a moment here to me, for the word that'll be +between us."</p> + +<p>Lun Dubh turned back into the forge, and Césa +said: "Put your finger on this anvil."</p> + +<p>Lun Dubh put his finger on the anvil. Césa, +catching up a good spike, which the old blacksmith +had made, and a hammer drove the spike +through the finger of Lun Dubh, fastening him to +the anvil.</p> + +<p>"Now," said Lun Dubh to Césa; "let me go free, +and do you take Scéhide; but I must have the first +blow on you in battle or war, or wherever else I +meet you in the world."</p> + +<p>"I will give you that," said Césa. So he freed +his comrade from the anvil. The young men +parted from each other,—Lun Dubh went one +way alone, and Césa another with Scéhide ni +Wánanan.</p> + +<p>As Césa went along he bought a skin at every +house where he could find one, until he had enough +to make clothes in which to disguise himself; for +he was in dread of Lun Dubh, on account of the +first blow which he had the right to strike when +they met.</p> + +<p>He put on the skin clothes, and changed his +name to Gilla na Grakin (the fellow of the skins).</p> + +<p>Gilla and his wife held on their way till they +came to the castle of Fin MacCumhail; and the<span class="pagenum">[168]</span> +time they came there was no one in the place but +women.</p> + +<p>"Where is Fin MacCumhail with his men +to-day?" asked Gilla na Grakin.</p> + +<p>"They are all out hunting," said the women.</p> + +<p>Now Gilla saw that the castle stood with open +door facing the wind, and turning again to the +women he asked: "Why do you have the door of +the castle to the wind?"</p> + +<p>"When Fin and his men are at home and the +wind comes in at the door, they all go out, take +hold of the castle and turn it around till the door +is on the sheltered side."</p> + +<p>When Gilla na Grakin heard this he went out, +put his hands to the castle, and turned it around +till the door was on the sheltered side.</p> + +<p>In the evening when Fin and the Fenians of +Erin were coming from the hunt, they saw the +castle turned around, and Fin said to the men: +"I'm afraid we haven't half enough of game for +the supper of the strangers who have come to visit +us to-day, there are so many of them that they +have turned the castle around."</p> + +<p>When they came home they saw there was no +man there but Gilla na Grakin, and they wondered +at the work he had done.</p> + +<p>Gilla stood before Fin, and said: "Do you want +a serving man?"</p> + +<p>"I do indeed," said Fin.</p> + +<p>"What wages will you give me for a year and a +day?" asked Gilla.</p> + +<p>"What yourself will ask," replied Fin.</p> + +<p>"I won't ask much," said Gilla; "five pounds for +myself, and a room in the castle for my wife."</p> + +<p>"You shall have both," said Fin.</p> + +<p>"I'm your man now," said Gilla.<span class="pagenum">[169]</span> +The whole company spent the first part of that +night in ease, the second in sport, and the third in +a short sleep.</p> + +<p>The next morning all the Fenians of Erin were +going to hunt, as the day before, and Fin said to +Gilla na Grakin: "Will you take any man to help +you?"</p> + +<p>"I'll take no man with me but myself; and do +you let me go in one part of the country alone, +and go yourself with all your men in another +part."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Fin, "will you find dry glens of +ridges, or go in deep boggy places where there is +danger of drowning?"</p> + +<p>"I will go in deep boggy places."</p> + +<p>All left the castle to hunt. Fin and the Fenians +of Erin went in one direction, and Gilla na Grakin +in another, and hunted all day.</p> + +<p>When they came home in the evening Gilla na +Grakin had a thousand times more game than Fin +and all his men together.</p> + +<p>When Fin saw this he was glad to have such a +good man, and was pleased beyond measure with +Gilla na Grakin. The whole company spent that +night as they had the night before,—in ease and +sport and sleep.</p> + +<p>Next day Conan Maol was outside with Fin, and +he said: "Gilla na Grakin will destroy the Fenians +of Erin and put you and all of us to death, unless +you banish him in some way from this castle."</p> + +<p>"Well;" said Fin to Conan Maol, "I've never had +a good man but you wanted me to put him away. +And how could I banish such a man as this if I +tried?"</p> + +<p>"The way to banish him," said Conan Maol, "is +to send him to the king of Lochlin to take from him<span class="pagenum">[170]</span> +the pot of plenty that's never without meat, but +has always enough in it to feed the whole world, +and bring that pot to this castle."</p> + +<p>Fin called Gilla na Grakin, and said: "You'll +have to go for me now to the king of Lochlin, and +get from him the pot of plenty that is never without +meat, and bring it here to me."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Gilla, "as long as I'm in your service +I can't refuse to do your work."</p> + +<p>So away went Gilla. He took a glen at a step +and a hill at a leap till he came to the shore of the +sea, where he caught up two sticks, put one across +the other, then gave them a tip of the hand, and +a fine vessel rose out of the two pieces of wood.</p> + +<p>Gilla na Grakin went on board the vessel, hoisted +the sails, and off he went in a straight line. The +music he heard on his way was the whistling of +eels in the sea and the calling of gulls in the air, +till he came under the king's castle in Lochlin. +When he came, there were hundreds of ships +standing near the shore, and he had to anchor +outside them all; then he stepped from ship to ship +till he stood on land.</p> + +<p>What should there be at the time he landed but +a great feast in the castle of the king. So Gilla +went to the front of the castle and stood outside +at the door; but he could go no further for the +crowd, and no one looked at him. At last he +shouted: "This is a very hospitable feast, and you +are a people of fine manners not to ask a stranger +is he hungry or thirsty."</p> + +<p>"You are right," said the king, who turned to +the people and said: "Give the pot of plenty to +the stranger till he eats his fill."</p> + +<p>The people obeyed the king, and when Gilla na +Grakin got hold of the pot he made for the ship, +and never stopped till he was on board. He put<span class="pagenum">[171]</span> +the pot in a safe place below. Then standing on +deck he said to himself: "It is no use to take +the pot by my swiftness unless I take it by my +strength."</p> + +<p>So he turned and went to land again. All the +heroes and champions of the king of Lochlin and +his whole army were ready to fight, but if they +were so was Gilla na Grakin.</p> + +<p>When he came up to the army he began and +went through it as a hawk goes through a flock of +swallows, till he made one heap of their heads +and another heap of their weapons. Then he went +to the castle, caught the king in one hand and the +queen in the other, and putting them under his +two arms brought them out in front of the castle +and killed each with the other.</p> + +<p>All was quiet and still at the castle. There +wasn't a man alive to stand up against Gilla na +Grakin, who went to his ship, raised the sails, and +started for Erin. All he heard was the spouting of +whales, the whistling of eels, the calling of gulls, +and the roar of the wind, as the ship rushed back +to the place where he had made it in Erin. When +he reached that place he gave the ship a tip of his +hand, and there before him was the pot of plenty, +and with it the two sticks which he had found on +the shore of the sea when he was going to the +castle of the king of Lochlin.</p> + +<p>He left the sticks where he found them, put the +pot on his back, and hurried away to the castle of +Fin MacCumhail.</p> + +<p>Fin and all the Fenians of Erin were glad to see +Gilla na Grakin, and Fin thanked him for the work +he had done.</p> + +<p>The first part of that night they spent in ease, +the second in sport, the third in a hurried sleep.</p> + +<p>Next morning they rose and had breakfast from<span class="pagenum">[172]</span> +the pot. From that day out they hunted for +pleasure alone. They had enough and to spare +from the pot of plenty.</p> + +<p>Another day Conan Maol was outside the castle +with Fin, and he said: "Gilla na Grakin will +destroy you and me and all of us unless we find +some way of putting him to death."</p> + +<p>"What do you want him to do now?" asked +Fin.</p> + +<p>"Let him go," said Conan Maol, to the king of +the Flood, "and bring back the cup that is never +drained."</p> + +<p>Fin went to the castle and called up Gilla na +Grakin. "I want you to go now," said he, "to the +king of the Flood, and bring me his cup that is +never dry."</p> + +<p>When he heard Fin's words, Gilla went off without +delay; he took a glen at a step, and a hill at a leap, +till he came to the sea. There he took up two +sticks of wood, threw one across the other, and +they became a fine large ship.</p> + +<p>Away he sailed in a straight line, listening as he +went to the spouting of whales, the whistling of +eels and the calling of gulls, and never stopped +till he anchored outside the castle of the king +of the Flood. There was many a ship at land +before him, so he stopped outside them all, and +stepped from ship to ship till he reached the +shore.</p> + +<p>The king of the Flood was giving a great feast +that day. Gilla na Grakin went to the castle, but +could not enter, so great was the throng. He +stood at the door a while, and then called out, "You +are an ill-mannered people, not to ask a stranger is +he hungry or dry!"</p> + +<p>The king heard these words, and said, "You are +right;" and turning to his people said, "Give this<span class="pagenum">[173]</span> +stranger the cup till he drinks his fill."</p> + +<p>As soon as ever Gilla got the cup in his hands, +he made for the ship and never stopped till he put +the cup in the hold of the vessel. Then he came +on deck, and thought, "It's no use to take the cup +with my swiftness, unless I take it with my +strength."</p> + +<p>So back he turned to the castle, and when he +reached land, the whole army and all the champions +of the king of the Flood stood ready to +oppose him. When he came up, he went through +them as a hawk through a flock of swallows. He +made a heap of their heads in one place, and a +heap of their weapons in another, and then went +back to the ship without thinking of the king and +the queen of the Flood—forgot them.</p> + +<p>He raised his sails and went away, listening to +music on the sea till he touched land in Erin. +Then he took the cup in one hand, struck the +ship with the other, turned it into the two sticks +which he had found on the shore, and travelled +on till he came to the castle of Fin MacCumhail +and gave up the cup.</p> + +<p>"You're the best man I have ever had," said +Fin; "and I give you my thanks and praise for +the work you have done."</p> + +<p>In the castle they spent the first part of that +night in ease, the second in sport, and the third in +a hurried sleep.</p> + +<p>Next morning said Fin to the Fenians of Erin, +"We needn't leave the house now unless we like. +We have the best of eating from the pot, and the +best of drinking from the cup. The one is never +empty, and the other is never dry, and we'll go +hunting in future only to pass the time for ourselves."</p> + +<p>One day Conan Maol was out with Fin a third<span class="pagenum">[174]</span> +time, and said he: "If we don't find some way to +kill Gilla na Grakin, he'll destroy you and me, +and all the Fenians of Erin."</p> + +<p>"Well," asked Fin, "where do you want to send +him this time?"</p> + +<p>"I want him to go to the eastern world, and find +out what was it that left the Gruagach with but the +one hair on his head."</p> + +<p>Fin went to the castle, called up Gilla na Grakin, +and said:</p> + +<p>"You must go for me now to the eastern world, +to know what was it that left the Gruagach with +the one hair on his head."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Gilla, "I never knew that you +wanted to put me to death till this minute; I know +it now. But still so long as I'm in your service I +can't refuse to do your work."</p> + +<p>Then Gilla na Grakin stepped out of the castle +door, and away he went to the eastern world. He +took a glen at a step, a hill at a leap, and lochs +and seas at a bound till he entered the Gruagach's +house in the eastern world.</p> + +<p>"What is your errand to me," asked the Gruagach, +"and why have you come to my house?"</p> + +<p>"I have come," said Gilla, "to know what was +it that left you with the one hair on your +head."</p> + +<p>"Sit down here and rest yourself to-night, and +if you are a good man, I'll tell you to-morrow," +said the Gruagach.</p> + +<p>When bedtime came the Gruagach said: "There +is an iron harrow there beyond, with teeth on both +sides of it; go now and stretch yourself on that +harrow, and sleep till morning."</p> + +<p>When daylight came, the Gruagach was on his +feet, and asked Gilla was he up.</p> + +<p>"I am," said he.<span class="pagenum">[175]</span> +After they had eaten breakfast, the Gruagach +went to another room and brought out two iron +loops. One of these he put on Gilla's neck, and the +other on his own, and then they began to jerk the +loops and pull one another and they fought till +late in the afternoon; neither had the upper hand, +but if one man was weaker than the other, that +man was Gilla na Grakin.</p> + +<p>"And now," thought he to himself, "the Gruagach +will take my life, and my wife will never know +what became of me." The thought gave him +strength and power, so up he sprang, and with the +first pull he gave he put the Gruagach to his knees +in the ground, with the second he put him to his +waist, with the third to his shoulders.</p> + +<p>"Indeed," said Gilla, "it would be easier for me +to strike the head off you now, than to let you go; +but if I took your head I shouldn't have my +master's work done."</p> + +<p>"If you let me go," said the Gruagach, "I'll +tell you what happened to me, and why I have but +the one hair on my head."</p> + +<p>Gilla set him free, then the two sat down together, +and the Gruagach began:—</p> + +<p>"I was living here, without trouble or annoyance +from any man, till one day a hare ran in, +made an unseemly noise under that table there, +and insulted us. I was here myself at the time with +my wife and my son and my daughter; and we +had a hound, a beagle, and a black horse.</p> + +<p>"The hare ran out from under the table, and I +made after the hare, and my wife and son and +daughter, with the horse and the two dogs, followed +me.</p> + +<p>"When the hare was on the top of a hill, I had +almost hold of his hind legs, but I never caught him.<span class="pagenum">[176]</span></p> + +<p>"When night was near, the hare came to the +walls of a great castle, and as he was jumping over, +I hit him a blow on the hind leg with a stick, but +in he went to the castle.</p> + +<p>"Out came an old hag, and screamed, 'Who is +it that worried the pet of this castle!'</p> + +<p>"I said it was myself that did it. Then she faced +me, and made at me and the fight began between +us. We fought all that night, and the next day till +near evening. Then she turned around and pulled +a Druidic rod out of herself, ran from me and struck +my wife and son and daughter and the two hounds +and the horse with the Druidic rod and made stones +of them.</p> + +<p>"Then she turned on me again and there wasn't +but the one hair left on my head from the desperate +fighting, and she looked at me, and said:</p> + +<p>"'I'll let you go this time but I'll give you a +good payment before you leave.' She caught hold +of me then in the grip of her one hand and with +the other she took a sharp knife and stripped all +the skin and flesh off my back, from my waist to +my heels. Then, taking the skin of a rough +shaggy goat, she clapped it on to me in place of +my own skin and flesh, and told me to go my way.</p> + +<p>"I left the old hag and the castle behind, but the +skin grew to me and I wear it to this day." And +here the Gruagach turned to Gilla na Grakin and +showed him the goatskin growing on his body in +place of his own skin and flesh.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Gilla, when he saw the shaggy back +of the Gruagach, "does that hare come here to +insult you yet?"</p> + +<p>"He does, indeed," said the Gruagach, "but I +haven't taken a bite nor a sup off that table since +his first visit."<span class="pagenum">[177]</span> +"Let us sit down there now," said Gilla na +Grakin.</p> + +<p>They sat down at the table, but they were not +sitting long till the hare came, repeated the insult, +and ran out.</p> + +<p>Gilla na Grakin made after the hare, and the +Gruagach after Gilla.</p> + +<p>Gilla ran as fast as ever his legs could carry him, +and he was often that near that he used to stretch +his arm out after the hare, and almost catch him; +but he never touched him till near night, when he +was clearing the wall. Then Gilla caught him by +the two hind legs, and, swinging him over his own +shoulder, dashed him against the wall, tore the +head from the body, and sent it bounding across +the courtyard of the castle.</p> + +<p>Out rushed an old hag that minute. She had +but one tooth and that in her upper jaw, and she +used this tooth for a crutch.</p> + +<p>"Who has killed the pet of this castle!" +shrieked she.</p> + +<p>"It was I that killed him," said Gilla na Grakin. +Then the two made at one another,—the hag +and Gilla. They fought all that night and next +day. With their fighting they made the hard +rocks soft, and water to spring out through the +middle of them. All the land of the eastern +world was trembling as the evening drew near, +and if one of the two was getting weak from the +struggle and tired, that one was Gilla na Grakin. +When he saw this he thought to himself, "Isn't it +a pity if an old hag puts me to death, me, who has +put to death many a strong hero."</p> + +<p>At this thought he sprang up and seized the +hag. With the first thrust which he gave her +into the ground he put her to the knees, with<span class="pagenum">[178]</span> +the second to her waist, with the third to her +shoulders.</p> + +<p>"Now," said the old hag to Gilla, "don't kill me, +and I'll give you the rod of druidism (<i>enchantment</i>), +which I have between my skin and flesh."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you wicked old wretch! I'll have that +after your death, and no thanks to you," said Gilla. +With that he swept the head off of her with a single +blow.</p> + +<p>Then the head jumped at the body, and tried to +get its place again, but Gilla stood between them, +and kept the head off till the body was cold. +Then he took out the rod of enchantment from +between the skin and the flesh, and threw the body +and the head of the old hag aside.</p> + +<p>The Gruagach came up, and Gilla said, "Show +me now the stones which were once your wife and +children, your dogs and your horse."</p> + +<p>The Gruagach went with him to the stones. +Gilla struck each with the rod, and the wife, +the son, the daughter, the hounds and the horse of +the Gruagach were alive again.</p> + +<p>When this was done, Gilla turned to the +Gruagach, struck the goatskin from his body, and +gave him his own skin and flesh back again with +the power of the rod.</p> + +<p>When all were restored, they started for the +Gruagach's house, and when there the Gruagach +said to Gilla na Grakin,—</p> + +<p>"Stay here with me till you get your rest. We +won't leave this place for a year and a day, and +then I'll go with you to the castle of Fin MacCumhail +and give witness to Fin of all that has +happened to me and all you have done."</p> + +<p>"Oh," said Gilla na Grakin, "I can't stay to rest, +I must go now!"</p> + +<p>The Gruagach was so glad that he had got back<span class="pagenum">[179]</span> +all his family and his own flesh that he followed +Gilla, and they set out for the castle of Fin MacCumhail +in Erin.</p> + +<p>They took a glen at a step, a hill at a leap, and +the sea at a bound.</p> + +<p>Conan Maol, who was outside the castle when +they came in sight, ran in and said to Fin, "Gilla +na Grakin and the Gruagach are coming, and +they'll destroy all that's about the castle, and all +that's inside as well!"</p> + +<p>"If they do," said Fin, "it's your own fault, and +you have no one to blame but yourself."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Conan Maol, "I'll lie down here +in the cradle, and put a steel cap on my head."</p> + +<p>Conan lay down in the cradle. Gilla and the +Gruagach came into the castle. The Gruagach +sat down near the cradle. Then he said to Fin, "I +came here with Gilla na Grakin to bear witness +to you of all that has happened to me, and of +all he has done."</p> + +<p>Then he told Fin the whole story of what they +had gone through and what they had done.</p> + +<p>With that the Gruagach put his hand behind +him and asked: "How old is this child lying here +in the cradle?"</p> + +<p>"Only three years," said Fin's wife.</p> + +<p>Then the Gruagach took the steel cap between +his thumb and fingers, thinking it was the head of +the child, and squeezed till the steel cracked with a +loud snap, but the child didn't cry.</p> + +<p>"Oh, there's the making of a man in him. If he +gets age he'll be a champion," said the Gruagach.</p> + +<p>Next day the Gruagach left Fin's castle and went +to his own place and family.</p> + +<p>Gilla na Grakin's time was now up, for he had +served a year and a day.</p> + +<p>Fin went out to wash himself in a spring near<span class="pagenum">[180]</span> +the castle, and when he looked into the spring a +spirit spoke up out of the water to him and said:</p> + +<p>"You must give back his cup to the king of +the Flood, or you must give him battle in its +place."</p> + +<p>Fin went back to the castle, lamenting the state +he was in.</p> + +<p>Conan Maol said, "You look like a sorrowful +man."</p> + +<p>"Why shouldn't I be?" said Fin. "A spirit +spoke to me from the spring outside, and told me +I must give back the cup to the king of the Flood, +or give him battle in place of it. Now Gilla's time +is up, and I don't know what to do."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Conan Maol, "do you go now and +speak to him, and maybe he'll do you a good +turn."</p> + +<p>Fin went to Gilla na Grakin, and told him what +happened at the spring.</p> + +<p>"My time is up, as you know," said Gilla, "and +I cannot serve on time that is past; but if you +want me to go, you must watch my wife Scéhide ni +Wánanan on Friday night; and in the middle of +the night, when she is combing her hair, any request +you'll make of her she can't refuse. The +request you'll make is that she'll let me go with +you to the king of the Flood, to take the cup to +his castle and bring it back again."</p> + +<p>Fin watched the time closely, and when the +middle of Friday night came, he looked through +a hole in the door and saw Scéhide combing her +hair. Then he asked his request of her.</p> + +<p>"Well," answered she, "I can't refuse, but you +must promise me to bring back Gilla, dead or alive."</p> + +<p>Fin promised her that.</p> + +<p>Next morning Fin MacCumhail and Gilla na<span class="pagenum">[181]</span> +Grakin set out for the castle of the king of the +Flood, taking the cup with them.</p> + +<p>They walked over Erin till they came to the +shore of the sea. There Gilla caught up two +pieces of wood, and putting one across the other, +struck them a tip of his fingers, and out of them +rose a fine ship. He and Fin went on board, +sailed away, and never stopped till they cast +anchor outside all the ships, under the castle of +the king of the Flood. The two walked on from +deck to deck till they stood on shore.</p> + +<p>They went a short distance from the castle of +the king and pitched a tent.</p> + +<p>Said Gilla to Fin, "Now we are hungry, and I +must find food for you and myself."</p> + +<p>So Gilla na Grakin went to the castle and asked +food of the king of the Flood.</p> + +<p>"You'll get nothing to eat from me. I have no +food in this place to give you or the like of you; +but there is a wild bull in the wood outside. Find +him: if you kill him, you'll have something to eat; +if not you'll go fasting," said the king of the +Flood to Gilla na Grakin.</p> + +<p>Gilla went out to the wood, and when the wild +bull saw a man coming towards him he drove his +horns into the ground, and put an acre of land +over his own back. Then he threw up an oak-tree, +roots and all, till it nearly reached the sky, and +made at Gilla na Grakin. But if he did, Gilla was +ready for him and faced him, and when the bull +came up, he caught him by the horns and threw +him to the ground; then putting a foot on one +horn, he took the other in his two hands, split the +bull from muzzle to tail, and made two halves of +him.</p> + +<p>Gilla carried the carcass to the tent, and when<span class="pagenum">[182]</span> +he had taken off the skin he said to Fin, "We +have no pot to boil the meat in. Well, I'll go to +the king again."</p> + +<p>So off he went and knocked at the castle +door.</p> + +<p>"What do you want now?" asked the king.</p> + +<p>"I want a pot," said Gilla, "to boil the wild +bull."</p> + +<p>"Well," said the king, "I have no pot for you +but that big pot back in the yard, in which we +boil stuff for the pigs. I'll give you the loan of +that if you are able to carry it."</p> + +<p>"It's good to get that itself from a bad person," +said Gilla na Grakin, and away he went to look for +the pot behind the castle.</p> + +<p>At last he found it, and when he put it down at +the tent he said to Fin, "We have nothing now to +boil the pot with, nothing to make a fire."</p> + +<p>Then he went a third time to the castle, knocked +at the door, and out came the king. "What do +you want now?" asked he.</p> + +<p>"Fire to boil the bull."</p> + +<p>"Go to the wood and get firewood for yourself, +or do without it. You'll get no firewood from +me," said the king of the Flood.</p> + +<p>Gilla went out, got plenty of wood and boiled +the whole bull.</p> + +<p>"We are well off now," said he to Fin; "we +have plenty to eat."</p> + +<p>Next morning Gilla na Grakin went to the castle +and knocked.</p> + +<p>"Who is that?" asked the king, without opening +the door.</p> + +<p>"I want no chat nor questions from you," said +Gilla, "but get me a breakfast."<span class="pagenum">[183]</span> +"I have no breakfast now," said the king; "but +wait a minute and you'll get a hot breakfast from +me."</p> + +<p>That moment the signal was sounded for the +armies of the king of the Flood to take Gilla +na Grakin and his master.</p> + +<p>When the armies stood ready Gilla began and +went through them as a hawk through sparrows. +He made one heap of their heads and another of +their weapons,—didn't leave a man living. Then +he went into the castle and taking the king of the +Flood in one hand and the queen in the other, he +killed each of them against the other.</p> + +<p>Now all was quiet at the castle. Gilla na Grakin +struck the tent and went to the ship with Fin +MacCumhail, who had the cup that was never +dry.</p> + +<p>They raised the sails and went over the sea +toward Erin, till they saw a large ship on one side +of them.</p> + +<p>"If it's going to help us that ship is," said Fin, +"'tis all the better for us, but if 'tis going against +us she is, that's the bad part of it."</p> + +<p>As the ship came near, Gilla na Grakin looked +at her sharply, and said to Fin, "I think it's Lun +Dubh that's on that ship."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Fin, "maybe he'll not know you +in a strange dress."</p> + +<p>When Lun Dubh came alongside, he called out: +"I know you well, and it's not by your dress that +I know you, Césa MacRi na Tulach." Then Lun +Dubh sprang on deck, raised his hand, struck Gilla, +and stretched him dead.</p> + +<p>Fin sailed away with the body of Gilla na Grakin, +and when he came in sight of the shore of Erin<span class="pagenum">[184]</span> +he raised a black flag; for he had promised Gilla's +wife to raise a white flag if her husband was well, +but a black one if he was dead.</p> + +<p>When he came to the shore, Scéhide ni Wánanan +was there before him, and she had a large, +roomy box. When she saw Fin she said, "You +have him dead with you?"</p> + +<p>"I have," said Fin.</p> + +<p>"What will you do with him now?" asked she.</p> + +<p>"I will bury him decently," said Fin.</p> + +<p>"You will not," said she; "you will put him in +this box."</p> + +<p>Then Fin put him in the box. She went aside +and got some fresh shamrock and went into the +box with Gilla. Then she told Fin to push the +box out to sea, and putting down the cover +fastened it inside.</p> + +<p>Fin pushed the box out into the sea, and away +it went driven by wind and waves, till one day +Scéhide looked out through a hole and saw two +sparrows flying and a dead one between them. +The two living sparrows let the dead one down +on an island. Soon they rose up again, and the +dead one was living.</p> + +<p>Said Scéhide to herself, "There might be +something on that island that would cure my +husband as it cured the dead bird."</p> + +<p>Now the sea put the box in on the island. +Scéhide unfastened the cover, came out, and +walked around the island. Nothing could she +find but a small spring of water in a rock. "It's +in this the cure may be," thought she, as she +looked at the water. Then taking off one of her +shoes she put it full of the water, took it to the +box, and poured it on Gilla na Grakin. That moment +he stood up alive and well.<span class="pagenum">[185]</span> +Gilla walked along the shore till he found two +pieces of wood. He threw one across the other, +gave them a tip of his hand, a fine large ship stood +there at the shore, and in it he sailed with Scéhide +back to Erin.</p> + +<p>When they landed he turned the vessel into two +sticks again with a tip of the hand, and set out +with his wife for the castle of Fin MacCumhail in +TirConal.</p> + +<p>They came to the castle of Fin at midnight. +Gilla knocked and said, "Put my wages out to +me."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Fin inside, "there is no man, alive +or dead, that has wages on me but Gilla na Grakin, +and I would rather see that fellow here than the +wages of three men."</p> + +<p>"Well, rise up now and you'll see him," said +Gilla.</p> + +<p>Fin rose up, saw his man, gave him his wages +with thanks and Gilla departed.</p> + +<p>At the break of day they saw a great house +before them. A man walked out with a kerchief +bound on his head.</p> + +<p>When Gilla na Grakin came up, he knew the +man, and raising his hand, struck him dead with +a blow.</p> + +<p>"I have satisfaction on Lun Dubh, now," said +Gilla to the wife. The two went into the house +and stayed there, and may be there yet for anything +we know. We are the luck and they are +the winners. +<span class="pagenum">[186]</span></p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<h2> + <a name="CHAPTER_16" id="CHAPTER_16"></a> + FIN MACCUMHAIL, THE SEVEN BROTHERS, AND THE KING OF FRANCE. +</h2> + +<p class="dropcap">WHEN Fin MacCumhail with seven companies +of the Fenians of Erin was living at Tara +of the Kings, he went hunting one day with the +seven companies; and while out on the mountains +seven young men came towards him and when +they came up and stood before him he asked their +names of them.</p> + +<p>Each gave his name in turn, beginning with +the eldest, and their names were Strong, son of +Strength; Wise, son of Wisdom; Builder, son of +Builder; Whistler, son of Whistler; Guide, son +of Guide; Climber, son of Climber; Thief, son +of Thief.</p> + +<p>The seven young men pleased Fin; they were +looking for service, so he hired them for a year +and a day.</p> + +<p>When Fin and the Fenians of Erin went home +that night from the hunt there was a message at +the castle before them from the king of France +to Fin MacCumhail and the Fenians of Erin, asking +them to come over to him on a most important +affair.</p> + +<p>Fin held a council straightway and said, "France +is a thousand miles from this and the sea between +it and Erin; how can we go to the king of France?"</p> + +<p>Then Strong, son of Strength, spoke up and +said: "What is the use of hiring us if we can't<span class="pagenum">[187]</span> +do this work and the like of it? If you'll make +a ship here, or in any place, I'll pull it in the +sea."</p> + +<p>"And I," said Builder, "will make a ship fit +for you or any king on earth with one blow of +this axe in my hand."</p> + +<p>"That's what I want," said Fin, "and now do +you make that ship for me."</p> + +<p>"I will," said Builder.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Strong, "I'll put your ship in the +sea."</p> + +<p>Builder made the ship there at Tara of the +Kings and then Strong brought it to the seashore +and put it in the water. Fin and the Fenians of +Erin went on board, and Guide took the ship from +Erin to France.</p> + +<p>When Fin and his men went to the king of +France he was glad to see them and said:</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you the reason now I asked you here, +and the business I have with you. This time three +years ago my wife had a son, two years ago a second, +one year ago a third, and the neighbors' wives +are thinking she'll have another child soon. Immediately +they were born the three were taken +away, and I want you to save the fourth; for we +all think it will be taken from us like the other +three. When each one of the others was sleeping, +a hand came down the chimney to the cradle and +took the child away with it up the chimney. There +is meat and drink in plenty in that room for you +and the Fenians of Erin. My only request is that +you'll watch the child."</p> + +<p>"We'll do that," said Fin, and he went into the +chamber with men enough to watch and the seven +brothers with him. Then the seven said: "Do +you and the men go to sleep for yourselves, and +we'll do the watching."<span class="pagenum">[188]</span> +So Fin and the men went to sleep. The child +was born early in the evening and put in the +cradle. At the dead of night Wise said to Strong: +"Now is your time; the hand is near; keep your +eye on it."</p> + +<p>Soon he saw the hand coming lower and lower +and moving towards the child; and when it was +going into the cradle, Strong caught the hand and +it drew him up nearly to the top of the chimney. +Then he pulled it down to the ashes; again it drew +him up.</p> + +<p>They were that way all night,—the hand drawing +Strong almost to the top of the chimney and +out of the house and Strong dragging the hand +down to the hearth. They were up and down the +chimney till break of day; and every stone in the +castle of the king of France was trembling in its +place from the struggle.</p> + +<p>But at break of day Strong tore from its shoulder +the arm with the hand, and there was peace. +Now all rose up at the castle. The king came and +was glad when he saw the child.</p> + +<p>Then Fin spoke up and said: "We have done +no good thing yet till we bring back the other +three to you."</p> + +<p>Wise spoke up and said: "I know very well +where the other three are, and I'll show you the +place."</p> + +<p>So all set out and they followed him to the +castle of Mal MacMulcan and there they saw the +three sons of the King of France carrying water +to MacMulcan to cool the shoulder from which +the arm had been torn by Strong.</p> + +<p>Then Wise said to Climber: "Now is your time +to take the children away; for we can do it without +being seen; but if Mal MacMulcan were to see the<span class="pagenum">[189]</span> +children going from him, he'd destroy the whole +world. But as it is when he finds the children +are gone, he has a sister there near himself, and +he'll break her head against the wall of the +castle."</p> + +<p>Then Climber took a clew from his pocket and +threw it over the walls of the castle, and the walls +were so high that no bird of the air could fly over +them. Then they fixed a rope ladder on the +castle. Wise, Guide, and Climber went up the +ladder and at break of day they brought away +the three children and gave them to the king of +France that morning. And the king of France +was so glad when he saw his three sons that he +said to Fin: "I will give you your ship full of the +most precious stuffs in my kingdom."</p> + +<p>"I will take nothing for myself," said Fin; "but +do you give what you like to my seven young men +who have done the work;" and the seven said they +wouldn't take anything while they were serving +with him. So Fin took the present from the king +of France and set sail for Erin with the Fenians +and the seven young men.</p> + +<p>While they were on the way to Erin they saw +the sea raging after them. Wise, son of Wisdom, +said: "That is Mal MacMulcan coming to get +satisfaction out of us."</p> + +<p>Then MacMulcan caught hold of the ship by +the stern and pulled it down till the masts +touched the sea. Strong caught him by the left +remaining hand, and the two began to fight, and +at last Strong pulled him on to the deck of the +ship.</p> + +<p>"Our ship will be sunk," said Wise, "and Fin +with the Fenians of Erin and the seven of us will +be drowned unless you make a flail out of MacMulcan<span class="pagenum">[190]</span> +and thrash the head off his body on the +deck of the ship."</p> + +<p>Strong made a flail out of MacMulcan and killed +him, and the sea was filled with blood in a minute +of time. Then the ship moved on without harm +till they came to the same spot in Erin from which +they had sailed.</p> + +<p>When Fin came to the place where he had hired +the seven young men the year and a day were +over. He paid them their hire and they left him. +Then he came to his own castle at Tara of the Kings.</p> + +<p>One day Fin went out walking alone, and he +met an old hag by the way. She spoke up to +him and asked: "Would you play a game of +cards with me?"</p> + +<p>"I would," said Fin, "if I had the means of +playing."</p> + +<p>The old hag pulled out a pack of cards and +said: "Here you have the means of playing as +many games as you like."</p> + +<p>They sat down and played; Fin got the first +game on the old woman. Then she said, "Put +the sentence on me now."</p> + +<p>"I will not," said Fin; "I'll do nothing till we +play another game."</p> + +<p>They played again and she won the second +game. Then she said to Fin, "You will have to +go and bring here for me the head of Curucha +na Gras and the sword that guards his castle; +and I won't give you leave to take away any of +your men with you but one, and he is the worst of +them all,—'Iron back without action,' and the time +for your journey is a year and a day. Now what +is your sentence on me?" said the old hag.</p> + +<p>"You'll put one foot," said Fin, "on the top of +my castle in Tara of the Kings, and the other on<span class="pagenum">[191]</span> +a hill in Mayo, and you'll stand with your back to +the wind and your face to the storm, a sheaf of +wheat on the ground before the gate will be all +you'll have to eat, and any grain that will be +blown out of it, if you catch that you'll have it, +and you'll be that way till I come back."</p> + +<p>So Fin went away with himself and "Iron back +without action." And when they had gone as far +as a large wood that was by the roadside, a thick +fog came on them, and rain, and they sat down at +the edge of the wood and waited. Soon they saw +a red-haired boy with a bow and arrows shooting +birds, and whenever he hit a bird he used to put +the arrow through its two eyes and not put a drop +of blood on its feathers.</p> + +<p>And when the red boy came near Fin, he drew +his bow, sent an arrow through "Iron back without +action," and put the life out of him.</p> + +<p>When he did that Fin said, "You have left me +without any man, though this was the worst of all +I have."</p> + +<p>"You'd better hire me," said the red boy; +"you've lost nothing, for you were without a man +when you had that fellow the same as you are now."</p> + +<p>So Fin hired the red boy and asked him his +name. "I won't tell you that," said he, "but do +you put the name on me that'll please yourself."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Fin, "since I met you in the rain +and the mist I'll call you Misty."</p> + +<p>"That'll be my name while I'm with you," said +the red boy, "and now we'll cast lots to see which +of us will carry the other;" and the lot fell upon +Misty. He raised Fin on his back to carry him, +and the first leap he took was six miles, and every +step a mile, and he went on without stopping till +he was in the Western World. When they came<span class="pagenum">[192]</span> +to the castle of Curucha na Gras, Fin and Misty put +up a tent for themselves and they were hungry +enough after the long road, and Misty said, "I will +go and ask Curucha for something to eat." He +went to the castle and put a fighting blow on the +door. Curucha came out and Misty asked him for +bread.</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't give you the leavings of my pigs," +said Curucha.</p> + +<p>Misty turned and left him, but on the way he +met the bakers bringing bread from the bake +house and he caught all their loaves from them and +ran home to Fin. "We have plenty to eat now," +said Misty, "but nothing at all to drink. I must +go to Curucha to know will he give us something +to drink."</p> + +<p>He went a second time to the castle, put a fighting +blow on the door, and out came Curucha.</p> + +<p>"What do you want this time?" asked he.</p> + +<p>"I want drink for myself and my master, Fin +MacCumhail."</p> + +<p>"You'll get no drink from me. I wouldn't give +you the dirty ditch-water that's outside my +castle."</p> + +<p>Misty turned to go home, but on the way he +met twelve boys each carrying the full of his arms +of bottles of wine. He took every bottle from +them, and it wasn't long till he was in the tent.</p> + +<p>"Now we can eat and drink our fill."</p> + +<p>"We can indeed," said Fin. Next morning +Misty put another fighting blow on the door of +the castle. Out flew Curucha with his guardian +sword in his hand, and he made at Misty. With +the first blow he gave him, he took an ear off his +head.</p> + +<p>Misty sprang back, drew his bow, and sent an<span class="pagenum">[193]</span> +arrow into Curucha's breast. It flew out through +his head and he fell lifeless on the ground. Then +Misty drew his knife, cut off the head, and carried +the head and the sword to Fin MacCumhail, and +Fin was glad to get them both.</p> + +<p>"Take the head," said Misty, "and put it on top +of the holly bush that's out here above us." Fin +put the head on the holly bush, and the minute he +put it there the head burnt the bush to the earth, +and the earth to the clay.</p> + +<p>Then they took the best horse that could be +found about Curucha's castle. Fin sat on the +horse, with the sword and head in front of him; +and Misty followed behind.</p> + +<p>They went their way and never stopped till they +came to the place where Misty sent the arrow +through "Iron back without action" and killed +him. When they came to that spot, Misty asked +Fin would he tell him a story, and Fin answered, +"I have no story to tell except that we are in the +place now where you killed my man."</p> + +<p>"Oh, then," said Misty, "I'm glad you put +that in my mind for I'll give him back to you +now." So they went and took "Iron back without +action" out of the ground; then Misty struck +him with a rod of enchantment which he had, and +brought life into him again.</p> + +<p>Then Misty turned to Fin and said: "I am a +brother of the seven boys who went with you to +save the children of the king of France. I was +too young for action at that time, but my mother +sent me here now as a gift to help you and tell +you what to do. When you go to the hag she'll +ask you for the sword, but you'll not give it, you'll +only show it to her. And when she has seen the +sword she'll ask for the head. And you'll not<span class="pagenum">[194]</span> +give the head to her either, you'll only show it; +and when she sees the head, she'll open her mouth +with joy at seeing the head of her brother; and +when you see her open her mouth be sure to strike +her on the breast with the head; and if you don't do +that, the whole world wouldn't be able to kill her."</p> + +<p>Then Fin left Misty where he met him and with +"Iron back without action" he made for Tara of +the Kings.</p> + +<p>When he came in front of the old hag she +asked him had he the gifts. Fin said he had. She +asked for the sword but she didn't get it, Fin only +showed it to her. Then she asked for the head, +and when she saw the head, she opened her mouth +with delight at seeing the head of her brother.</p> + +<p>While she stood there with open mouth gazing, +Fin picked out the mark and struck her on the +breast with the head. She fell to the ground; +they left her there dead and went into the castle. +<span class="pagenum">[195]</span></p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<h2> + <a name="CHAPTER_17" id="CHAPTER_17"></a> + BLACK, BROWN, AND GRAY. +</h2> + +<p class="dropcap">ON a day Fin MacCumhail was near Tara of the +Kings, south of Ballyshannon, hunting with +seven companies of the Fenians of Erin.</p> + +<p>During the day they saw three strange men +coming towards them, and Fin said to the Fenians: +"Let none of you speak to them, and if they have +good manners they'll not speak to you nor to any +man till they come to me."</p> + +<p>When the three men came up, they said nothing +till they stood before Fin himself. Then he asked +what their names were and what they wanted. +They answered:—</p> + +<p>"Our names are Dubh, Dun, and Glasán [Black, +Brown, and Gray]. We have come to find Fin +MacCumhail, chief of the Fenians of Erin, and take +service with him."</p> + +<p>Fin was so well pleased with their looks that he +brought them home with him that evening and +called them his sons. Then he said, "Every man +who comes to this castle must watch the first +night for me, and since three of you have come +together, each will watch one third of the night. +You'll cast lots to see who'll watch first and +second."</p> + +<p>Fin had the trunk of a tree brought, three equal +parts made of it, and one given to each of the men.</p> + +<p>Then he said, "When each of you begins his +watch he will set fire to his own piece of wood, and +so long as the wood burns he will watch."</p> + +<p>The lot fell to Dubh to go on the first watch.<span class="pagenum">[196]</span> +Dubh set fire to his log, then went out around +the castle, the dog Bran with him. He wandered +on, going further and further from the castle, and +Bran after him. At last he saw a bright light and +went towards it. When he came to the place +where the light was burning, he saw a large house. +He entered the house and when inside saw a great +company of most strange looking men, drinking +out of a single cup.</p> + +<p>The chief of the party, who was sitting on a +high place, gave the cup to the man nearest him; +and when he had drunk his fill out of it, he passed +it to his neighbor, and so on to the last.</p> + +<p>While the cup was going the round of the +company, the chief said, "This is the great cup +that was taken from Fin MacCumhail a hundred +years ago; and as much as each man wishes to +drink he always gets from it, and no matter how +many men there may be, or what they wish for, +they always have their fill."</p> + +<p>Dubh sat near the door on the edge of the +crowd, and when the cup came to him he drank a +little, then slipped out and hurried away in the +dark; when he came to the fountain at the castle +of Fin MacCumhail, his log was burned.</p> + +<p>As the second lot had fallen on Dun, it was now +his turn to watch, so he set fire to his log and +went out, in the place of Dubh, with the dog Bran +after him.</p> + +<p>Dun walked on through the night till he saw a +fire. He went towards it, and when he had come +near he saw a large house, which he entered; and +when inside he saw a crowd of strange looking +men, fighting. They were ferocious, wonderful to +look at, and fighting wildly.</p> + +<p>The chief, who had climbed on the crossbeams +of the house to escape the uproar and struggle,<span class="pagenum">[197]</span> +called out to the crowd below: "Stop fighting now; +for I have a better gift than the one you have lost +this night." And putting his hand behind his belt, +he drew out a knife and held it before them, saying: +"Here is the wonderful knife, the small knife +of division, that was stolen from Fin MacCumhail +a hundred years ago, and if you cut on a bone +with the knife, you'll get the finest meat in the +world, and as much of it as ever your hearts can +wish for."</p> + +<p>Then he passed down the knife and a bare bone +to the man next him, and the man began to cut; +and off came slices of the sweetest and best meat +in the world.</p> + +<p>The knife and the bone passed from man to +man till they came to Dun, who cut a slice off the +bone, slipped out unseen, and made for Fin's castle +as fast as his two legs could carry him through the +darkness and over the ground.</p> + +<p>When he was by the fountain at the castle, his +part of the log was burned and his watch at an +end.</p> + +<p>Now Glasán set fire to his stick of wood and +went out on his watch and walked forward till he +saw the light and came to the same house that +Dubh and Dun had visited. Looking in he saw +the place full of dead bodies, and thought, "There +must be some great wonder here. If I lie down in +the midst of these and put some of them over me +to hide myself, I shall be able to see what is going +on."</p> + +<p>He lay down and pulled some of the bodies +over himself. He wasn't there long when he saw +an old hag coming into the house. She had but +one leg, one arm, and one upper tooth, which was +as long as her leg and served her in place of a +crutch.<span class="pagenum">[198]</span> +When inside the door she took up the first +corpse she met and threw it aside; it was lean. +As she went on she took two bites out of every +fat corpse she met, and threw every lean one +aside.</p> + +<p>She had her fill of flesh and blood before she +came to Glasán; and as soon as she had that, she +dropped down on the floor, lay on her back, and +went to sleep.</p> + +<p>Every breath she drew, Glasán was afraid she'd +drag the roof down on top of his head, and every +time she let a breath out of her he thought she'd +sweep the roof off the house.</p> + +<p>Then he rose up, looked at her, and wondered +at the bulk of her body. At last he drew his +sword, hit her a slash, and if he did, three young +giants sprang forth.</p> + +<p>Glasán killed the first giant, the dog Bran killed +the second, and the third ran away.</p> + +<p>Glasán now hurried back, and when he reached +the fountain at Fin's castle, his log of wood was +burned, and day was dawning.</p> + +<p>When all had risen in the morning, and the +Fenians of Erin came out, Fin said to Dubh, +"Have you anything new or wonderful to tell me +after the night's watching?"</p> + +<p>"I have," said Dubh; "for I brought back the +drinking-cup that you lost a hundred years ago. +I was out in the darkness watching. I walked on, +and the dog Bran with me till I saw a light. When +I came to the light I found a house, and in the +house a company feasting. The chief was a very +old man, and sat on a high place above the rest. +He took out the cup and said: 'This is the cup +that was stolen from Fin MacCumhail a hundred +years ago, and it is always full of the best drink +in the world; and when one of you has drunk<span class="pagenum">[199]</span> +from the cup pass it on to the next.'</p> + +<p>"They drank and passed the cup till it came to +me. I took it and hurried back. When I came +here, my log was burned and my watch was +finished. Here now is the cup for you," said +Dubh to Fin MacCumhail.</p> + +<p>Fin praised him greatly for what he had done, +and turning to Dun said: "Now tell us what +happened in your watch."</p> + +<p>"When my turn came I set fire to the log +which you gave me, and walked on; the dog Bran +following, till I saw a light. When I came to the +light, I found a house in which was a crowd of +people, all fighting except one very old man on +a high place above the rest. He called to them +for peace, and told them to be quiet. 'For,' said +he, 'I have a better gift for you than the one you +lost this night,' and he took out the small knife +of division with a bare bone, and said: 'This is +the knife that was stolen from Fin MacCumhail, a +hundred years ago, and whenever you cut on the +bone with the knife, you'll get your fill of the best +meat on earth.'</p> + +<p>"Then he handed the knife and the bone to the +man nearest him, who cut from it all the meat he +wanted, and then passed it to his neighbor. The +knife went from hand to hand till it came to me, +then I took it, slipped out, and hurried away. +When I came to the fountain, my log was burned, +and here are the knife and bone for you."</p> + +<p>"You have done a great work, and deserve my +best praise," said Fin. "We are sure of the best +eating and drinking as long as we keep the cup +and the knife."</p> + +<p>"Now what have you seen in your part of the +night?" said Fin to Glasán.</p> + +<p>"I went out," said Glasán, "with the dog Bran,<span class="pagenum">[200]</span> +and walked on till I saw a light, and when I came +to the light I saw a house, which I entered. Inside +were heaps of dead men, killed in fighting, and I +wondered greatly when I saw them. At last I lay +down in the midst of the corpses, put some of +them over me and waited to see what would +happen.</p> + +<p>"Soon an old hag came in at the door, she had +but one arm, one leg, and the one tooth out of +her upper jaw, and that tooth as long as her leg, +and she used it for a crutch as she hobbled along. +She threw aside the first corpse she met and took +two bites out of the second,—for she threw every +lean corpse away and took two bites out of every +fat one. When she had eaten her fill, she lay down +on her back in the middle of the floor and went +to sleep. I rose up then to look at her, and every +time she drew a breath I was in dread she would +bring down the roof of the house on the top of my +head, and every time she let a breath out of her, +I thought she'd sweep the roof from the building, +so strong was the breath of the old hag.</p> + +<p>"Then I drew my sword and cut her with a +blow, but if I did three young giants sprang up +before me. I killed the first, Bran killed the second, +but the third escaped. I walked away then, +and when I was at the fountain outside, daylight +had come and my log was burned."</p> + +<p>"Between you and me," said Fin, "it would +have been as well if you had let the old hag alone. +I am greatly in dread the third young giant will +bring trouble on us all."</p> + +<p>For twenty-one years Fin MacCumhail and the +Fenians of Erin hunted for sport alone. They had +the best of eating from the small knife of division, +and the best of drinking from the cup that was +never dry.<span class="pagenum">[201]</span> +At the end of twenty-one years Dubh, Dun, and +Glasán went away, and one day, as Fin and the +Fenians of Erin were hunting on the hills and +mountains, they saw a Fear Ruadh (a red haired +man) coming toward them.</p> + +<p>"There is a bright looking man coming this +way," said Fin, "and don't you speak to him."</p> + +<p>"Oh, what do we care for him?" asked Conan +Maol.</p> + +<p>"Don't be rude to a stranger," said Fin.</p> + +<p>The Fear Ruadh came forward and spoke to no +man till he stood before Fin.</p> + +<p>"What have you come for?" asked Fin.</p> + +<p>"To find a master for twenty-one years."</p> + +<p>"What wages do you ask?" inquired Fin.</p> + +<p>"No wages but this,—that if I die before the +twenty-one years have passed, I shall be buried +on Inis Caol (Light Island)."</p> + +<p>"I'll give you those wages," said Fin, and he +hired the Fear Ruadh for twenty-one years.</p> + +<p>He served Fin for twenty years to his satisfaction; +but toward the end of the twenty-first year +he fell into a decline, became an old man, and +died.</p> + +<p>When the Fear Ruadh was dead, the Fenians of +Erin said that not a step would they go to bury +him; but Fin declared that he wouldn't break his +word for any man, and must take the corpse to +Inis Caol.</p> + +<p>Fin had an old white horse which he had turned +out to find a living for himself as he could on the +hillsides and in the woods. And now he looked +for the horse and found that he had become +younger than older in looks since he had put him +out. So he took the old white horse and tied +a coffin, with the body of the Fear Ruadh in it, +on his back. Then they started him on ahead<span class="pagenum">[202]</span> +and away he went followed by Fin and twelve men +of the Fenians of Erin.</p> + +<p>When they came to the temple on Inis Caol +there were no signs of the white horse and the +coffin; but the temple was open and in went Fin +and the twelve.</p> + +<p>There were seats for each man inside. They +sat down and rested awhile and then Fin tried +to rise but couldn't. He told the men to rise, but +the twelve were fastened to the seats, and the seats +to the ground, so that not a man of them could +come to his feet.</p> + +<p>"Oh," said Fin, "I'm in dread there is some +evil trick played on us."</p> + +<p>At that moment the Fear Ruadh stood before +them in all his former strength and youth and said: +"Now is the time for me to take satisfaction +out of you for my mother and brothers," Then +one of the men said to Fin, "Chew your thumb +to know is there any way out of this."</p> + +<p>Fin chewed his thumb to know what should he +do. When he knew, he blew the great whistle with +his two hands; which was heard by Donogh Kamcosa +and Diarmuid O'Duivne.</p> + +<p>The Fear Ruadh fell to and killed three of the +men; but before he could touch the fourth +Donogh and Diarmuid were there, and put an end +to him. Now all were free, and Fin with the nine +men went back to their castle south of Ballyshannon. +<span class="pagenum">[203]</span></p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<h2> + <a name="CHAPTER_18" id="CHAPTER_18"></a> + FIN MACCUMHAIL AND THE SON OF THE KING OF ALBA. +</h2> + +<p class="dropcap">ON a day Fin went out hunting with his dog +Bran, on Knock an Ar; and he killed so much +game that he didn't know what to do with it or +how to bring it home. As he stood looking and +thinking, all at once he saw a man running towards +him, with a rope around his waist so long that half +his body was covered with it; and the man was +of such size that, as he ran, Fin could see the +whole world between his legs and nothing between +his head and the sky. When he came up, the +man saluted Fin, who answered him most kindly. +"Where are you going?" asked Fin. "I am out +looking for a master." "Well," said Fin, "I am +in sore need of a man; what can you do?" "Do +you see this rope on my body? Whatever this +rope will bind I can carry." "If that is true," said +Fin, "you are the man I want. Do you see the +game on this hillside?" "I do," said the man. +"Well, put that into the rope and carry it to my +castle."</p> + +<p>The man put all the game into the rope, made a +great bundle, and threw it on his back.</p> + +<p>"Show me the way to the castle now," said he. +Fin started on ahead, and though he ran with all +his might, he could not gain one step on the man +who followed with the game. The sentry on guard +at the castle saw the man running while yet far off. +He stepped inside the gate and said: "There is +a man coming with a load on his back as big as a +mountain." Before he could come out again to his +<span class="pagenum">[204]</span> +place the man was there and the load off his back. +When the game came to the ground, it shook the +castle to its foundations. Next day the man was +sent to herd cows for a time, and while he was +gone, Conán Maol said to Fin: "If you don't put +this cowherd to death, he will destroy all the +Fenians of Erin." "How could I put such a good +man to death?" asked Fin. "Send him," said +Conán, "to sow corn on the brink of a lake in the +north of Erin. Now, in that lake lives a serpent that +never lets a person pass, but swallows every man +that goes that way." Fin agreed to this, and the +next morning after breakfast he called the man, gave +him seven bullocks, a plough, and a sack of grain, +and sent him to the lake in the north of Erin to sow +corn. When he came to the lake, the man started +to plough, drew one furrow. The lake began to boil +up, and as he was coming back, making the second +furrow, the serpent was on the field before him +and swallowed the seven bullocks and the plough +up to the handles. But the man held fast to what +he had in his two hands, gave a pull, and dragged +the plough and six of the bullocks out of the belly +of the serpent. The seventh one remained inside. +The serpent went at him and they fought for seven +days and nights. At the end of that time the serpent +was as tame as a cat, and the man drove him +and the six bullocks home before him.</p> + +<p>When he was in sight of Fin's castle, the sentry +at the gate ran in and cried: "That cowherd is +coming with the size of a mountain before him!" +"Run out," said Conán Maol, "and tell him to tie +the serpent to that oak out there."</p> + +<p>They ran out, and the man tied the serpent to +the oak-tree, then came in and had a good +supper.</p> + +<p>Next morning the man went out to herd cows +<span class="pagenum">[205]</span> +as before. "Well," said Conán Maol to Fin, "if +you don't put this man to death, he'll destroy you +and me and all the Fenians of Erin."</p> + +<p>"How could I put such a man to death?"</p> + +<p>"There is," said Conán, "a bullock in the north +of Erin, and he drives fog out of himself for seven +days and then he draws it in for seven other +days. To-morrow is the last day for drawing it +in. If any one man comes near, he'll swallow him +alive."</p> + +<p>When the cowherd came to supper in the evening, +Fin said to him: "I am going to have a feast +and need fresh beef. Now there is a bullock in +that same valley by the lake in the north of Erin +where you punished the serpent; and if you go +there and bring the bullock to me, you'll have my +thanks."</p> + +<p>"I'll go," said the man, "the first thing after +breakfast in the morning."</p> + +<p>So off he went next morning; and when he came +near the valley, he found the bullock asleep and +drawing in the last of the fog; and soon he found +himself going in with it. So he caught hold of a +great oak-tree for safety. The bullock woke up +then and saw him, and letting a roar out of himself, +faced him, and gave him a pitch with his horn +which sent him seven miles over the top of a wood. +And when he fell to the ground, the bullock was on +him again before he had time to rise, and gave him +another pitch which sent him back and broke +three ribs in his body.</p> + +<p>"This will never do," said the man, as he rose, +and pulling up an oak-tree by the roots for a club, +he faced the bullock. And there they were at one +another for five days and nights, till the bullock +was as tame as a cat and the man drove him home +to Fin's castle. +<span class="pagenum">[206]</span> +The sentry saw them coming and ran inside the +gate with word. "Tell the man to tie the bullock +to that oak-tree beyond," said Conán. "We don't +want him near this place." The cowherd tied the +bullock, and told Fin to send four of the best +butchers in Erin to kill him with an axe; and the +four of them struck him one after another and any +of them couldn't knock him.</p> + +<p>"Give me an axe," said the man to the butchers. +They gave him the axe, and the first stroke he +gave, he knocked the bullock. Then they began +to skin him; but the man didn't like the way they +were doing the work, so he took his sword and had +three quarters of the bullock skinned before they +could skin one.</p> + +<p>Next morning the cowherd went out with the +cows; but he wasn't long gone when Conán Maol +came to Fin and said: "If you don't put an end to +that man, he'll soon put an end to you and to me +and to all of us, so there won't be a man of the +Fenians of Erin left alive."</p> + +<p>"How could I put an end to a man like him?" +asked Fin.</p> + +<p>"There is in the north of Erin," said Conán, +"a wild sow who has two great pigs of her own; +and she and her two pigs have bags of poison in +their tails; and when they see any man, they run at +him and shake their poison bags; and if the smallest +drop of the poison touches him, it is death to him +that minute. And, if by any chance he should +escape the wild sow and the pigs, there is a fox-man +called the Gruagach, who has but one eye and +that in the middle of his forehead. The Gruagach +carries a club of a ton weight, and if the cowherd +gets one welt of that club, he'll never trouble the +Fenians of Erin again."</p> + +<p>Next morning Fin called up the cowherd and +<span class="pagenum">[207]</span> +said, "I am going to have a feast in this castle, and +I would like to have some fresh pork. There is a +wild sow in the north of Erin with two pigs, and if +you bring her to me before the feast, you'll have +my thanks."</p> + +<p>"I'll go and bring her to you," said the cowherd. +So after breakfast he took his sword, went to the +north of Erin, and stole up to the sow and two +pigs, and whipped the tails off the three of them, +before they knew he was in it. Then he faced the +wild sow and fought with her for four days and +five nights, and on the morning of the fifth day he +knocked her dead. At the last blow, his sword +stuck in her backbone and he couldn't draw it +out. But with one pull he broke the blade, and +stood there over her with only the hilt in his hand. +Then he put his foot on one of her jaws, took the +other in his hands, and splitting her evenly from +the nose to the tail, made two halves of her.</p> + +<p>He threw one half on his shoulder; and that +minute the big Gruagach with one eye in his head +came along and made an offer of his club at him +to kill him. But the cowherd jumped aside, and +catching the Gruagach by one of his legs, threw +him up on to the half of the wild sow on his shoulder, +and taking the other half of her from the ground, +clapped that on the top of the Gruagach, and ran +away to Fin's castle as fast as his legs could carry +him.</p> + +<p>The sentry at the castle gate ran in and said: +"The cowherd is running to the castle, and the size +of a mountain on his back." "Go out now," said +Conán Maol, "and stop him where he is, or he'll +throw down the castle if he comes here with the +load that's on him." But before the sentry was +back at his place, the cowherd was at the gate +shaking the load off his back and the castle to its +<span class="pagenum">[208]</span> +foundations, so that every dish and vessel in it was +broken to bits.</p> + +<p>The Gruagach jumped from the ground, rubbed +his legs and every part of him that was sore from +the treatment he got. He was so much in dread +of the cowherd that he ran with all the strength +that was in him, and never stopped to look back +till he was in the north of Erin.</p> + +<p>Next morning the cowherd went out with the +cows, drove them back in the evening, and while +picking the thigh-bone of a bullock for his supper, +Oscar, son of Oisin, the strongest man of the Fenians +of Erin, came up to him and took hold of the bone +to pull it from his hand. The cowherd held one +end and Oscar the other, and pulled till they made +two halves of the bone. "What did you carry +away?" asked the cowherd. "What I have in my +hand," said Oscar. "And I kept what I held in +my fist," said the cowherd. "There is that for +you now," said Oscar, and he hit him a slap.</p> + +<p>The cowherd said no word in answer, but next +morning he asked his wages of Fin. "Oh, then," +said Fin, "I'll pay you and welcome, for you are +the best man I have ever had or met with."</p> + +<p>Then the cowherd went away to Cahirciveen in +Kerry where he had an enchanted castle. But before +he went he invited Fin MacCumhail and the +Fenians of Erin to have a great feast with him. +"For," said he to Fin, "I'm not a cowherd at all, +but the son of the king of Alba, and I'll give you +good cheer."</p> + +<p>When the Fenians came to the place, they +found the finest castle that could be seen. There +were three fires in each room and seven spits at +every fire. When they had gone and sat down +in their places, there was but one fire in each +room. +<span class="pagenum">[209]</span> +"Rise up, every man of you," said Fin, "or we +are lost; for this is an enchanted place."</p> + +<p>They tried to rise, but each man was fastened to +his seat, and the seat to the floor; and not one of +them could stir. Then the last fire went out and +they were in darkness.</p> + +<p>"Chew your thumb," said Conán to Fin, "and +try is there any way out of here." Fin chewed +his thumb and knew what trouble they were in. +Then he put his two hands into his mouth and +blew the old-time whistle. And this whistle was +heard by Pogán and Ceolán, two sons of Fin who +were in the North at that time, one fishing and +the other hurling.</p> + +<p>When they heard the whistle, they said: "Our +father and the Fenians of Erin are in trouble." And +they faced towards the sound and never stopped +till they knocked at the door of the enchanted +castle of the son of Alba at Cahirciveen.</p> + +<p>"Who is there?" asked Fin.</p> + +<p>"Your two sons," said one of them.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Fin, "we are in danger of death +to-night. That cowherd I had in my service was +no cowherd at all, but the son of the king of +Alba; and his father has said that he will not eat +three meals off one table without having my head. +There is an army now on the road to kill us to-night. +There is no way in or out of this castle +but by one ford, and to that ford the army of the +king of Alba is coming."</p> + +<p>The two sons of Fin went out at nightfall and +stood in the ford before the army. The son of +the king of Alba knew them well, and calling +each by name, said: "Won't you let us pass?" +"We will not," said they; and then the fight began. +The two sons of Fin MacCumhail, Pogán and +Ceolán, destroyed the whole army and killed every +<span class="pagenum">[210]</span> +man except the son of the king of Alba.</p> + +<p>After the battle the two went back to their +father. "We have destroyed the whole army at +the ford," said they.</p> + +<p>"There is a greater danger ahead," said Fin. +"There is an old hag coming with a little pot. She +will dip her finger in the pot, touch the lips of +the dead men, and bring the whole army to life. +But first of all there will be music at the ford, and +if you hear the music, you'll fall asleep. Now go, +but if you do not overpower the old hag, we are +lost."</p> + +<p>"We'll do the best we can," said the two sons +of Fin.</p> + +<p>They were not long at the ford when one said, +"I am falling asleep from that music." "So am +I," said the other. "Knock your foot down on +mine," said the first. The other kicked his foot +and struck him, but no use. Then each took his +spear and drove it through the foot of the other, +but both fell asleep in spite of the spears.</p> + +<p>The old hag went on touching the lips of the +dead men, who stood up alive; and she was crossing +the ford at the head of the army when she +stumbled over the two sleeping brothers and spilt +what was in the pot over their bodies.</p> + +<p>They sprang up fresh and well, and picking up +two stones of a ton weight each that were there in +the ford, they made for the champions of Alban and +never stopped till they killed the last man of them; +and then they killed the old hag herself.</p> + +<p>Pogán and Ceolán then knocked at the door of +the castle.</p> + +<p>"Who's there?" asked Fin.</p> + +<p>"Your two sons," said they; "and we have killed +all the champions of Alban and the old hag as +well." +<span class="pagenum">[211]</span> +"You have more to do yet," said Fin. "There +are three kings in the north of Erin who have +three silver goblets. These kings are holding a +feast in a fort to-day. You must go and cut the +heads off the three, put their blood in the goblets +and bring them here. When you come, rub the +blood on the keyhole of the door and it will open +before you. When you come in, rub the seats +and we shall all be free."</p> + +<p>The three goblets of blood were brought to +Cahirciveen, the door of the castle flew open, and +light came into every room. The brothers rubbed +blood on the chairs of all the Fenians of Erin and +freed them all, except Conán Maol, who had no +chair, but sat on the floor with his back to the wall. +When they came to him the last drop of blood was +gone.</p> + +<p>All the Fenians of Erin were hurrying past, +anxious to escape, and paid no heed to Conán, +who had never a good word in his mouth for any +man. Then Conán turned to Diarmuid, and said: +"If a woman were here in place of me, you +wouldn't leave her to die this way." Then Diarmuid +turned, took him by one hand, and Goll +MacMorna by the other, and pulling with all their +might, tore him from the wall and the floor. But +if they did, he left all the skin of his back from +his head to his heels on the floor and the wall +behind him. But when they were going home +through the hills of Tralee, they found a sheep +on the way, killed it, and clapped the skin on +Conán. The sheepskin grew to his body; and he +was so well and strong that they sheared him every +year, and got wool enough from his back to make +flannel and frieze for the Fenians of Erin ever +after. +<span class="pagenum">[212]</span></p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<h2> + <a name="CHAPTER_19" id="CHAPTER_19"></a> + CUCÚLIN. +</h2> + +<p class="dropcap">THERE was a king in a land not far from +Greece who had two daughters, and the +younger was fairer than the elder daughter.</p> + +<p>This old king made a match between the king +of Greece and his own elder daughter; but he kept +the younger one hidden away till after the marriage. +Then the younger daughter came forth to +view; and when the king of Greece saw her, he +wouldn't look at his own wife. Nothing would do +him but to get the younger sister and leave the +elder at home with her father.</p> + +<p>The king wouldn't listen to this, wouldn't agree +to the change, so the king of Greece left his wife +where she was, went home alone in a terrible rage +and collected all his forces to march against the +kingdom of his father-in-law.</p> + +<p>He soon conquered the king and his army and, +so far as he was able, he vexed and tormented him. +To do this the more completely, he took from him +a rod of Druidic spells, enchantment, and ring of +youth which he had, and, striking the elder sister +with the rod, he said: "You will be a serpent of +the sea and live outside there in the bay by the +castle."</p> + +<p>Then turning to the younger sister, whose name +was Gil an Og, he struck her, and said: "You'll +be a cat while inside this castle, and have your own +form only when you are outside the walls."</p> + +<p>After he had done this, the king of Greece went +home to his own country, taking with him the rod +of enchantment and the ring of youth.<span class="pagenum">[213]</span> +The king died in misery and grief, leaving his +two daughters spellbound.</p> + +<p>Now there was a Druid in that kingdom, and the +younger sister went to consult him, and asked: +"Shall I ever be released from the enchantment +that's on me now?"</p> + +<p>"You will not, unless you find the man to release +you; and there is no man in the world to +do that but a champion who is now with Fin MacCumhail +in Erin."</p> + +<p>"Well, how can I find that man?" asked she.</p> + +<p>"I will tell you," said the Druid. "Do you make +a shirt out of your own hair, take it with you, and +never stop till you land in Erin and find Fin and +his men; the man that the shirt will fit is the man +who will release you."</p> + +<p>She began to make the shirt and worked without +stopping till it was finished. Then she went on her +journey and never rested till she came to Erin in +a ship. She went on shore and inquired where +Fin and his men were to be found at that time of +the year.</p> + +<p>"You will find them at Knock an Ar," was the +answer she got.</p> + +<p>She went to Knock an Ar carrying the shirt +with her. The first man she met was Conan Maol, +and she said to him: "I have come to find the +man this shirt will fit. From the time one man +tries it all must try till I see the man it fits."</p> + +<p>The shirt went from hand to hand till Cucúlin +put it on. "Well," said she, "it fits as your own +skin."</p> + +<p>Now Gil an Og told Cucúlin all that had happened,—how +her father had forced her sister to +marry the king of Greece, how this king had made +war on her father, enchanted her sister and herself,<span class="pagenum">[214]</span> +and carried off the rod of enchantment with the +ring of youth, and how the old Druid said the man +this shirt would fit was the only man in the world +who could release them.</p> + +<p>Now Gil an Og and Cucúlin went to the ship +and sailed across the seas to her country and went +to her castle.</p> + +<p>"You'll have no one but a cat for company to-night," +said Gil an Og. "I have the form of a cat +inside this castle, but outside I have my own appearance. +Your dinner is ready, go in."</p> + +<p>After the dinner Cucúlin went to another room +apart, and lay down to rest after the journey. +The cat came to his pillow, sat there and purred +till he fell asleep and slept soundly till morning.</p> + +<p>When he rose up, a basin of water, and everything +he needed was before him, and his breakfast +ready. He walked out after breakfast; Gil an Og +was on the green outside before him and said:</p> + +<p>"If you are not willing to free my sister and myself, +I shall not urge you; but if you do free us, I +shall be glad and thankful. Many king's sons and +champions before you have gone to recover the +ring and the rod; but they have never come +back."</p> + +<p>"Well, whether I thrive or not, I'll venture," +said Cucúlin.</p> + +<p>"I will give you," said Gil an Og, "a present +such as I have never given before to any man who +ventured out on my behalf; I will give you the +speckled boat."</p> + +<p>Cucúlin took leave of Gil an Og and sailed away +in the speckled boat to Greece, where he went +to the king's court, and challenged him to +combat.</p> + +<p>The king of Greece gathered his forces and sent +them out to chastise Cucúlin. He killed them all<span class="pagenum">[215]</span> +to the last man. Then Cucúlin challenged the +king a second time.</p> + +<p>"I have no one now to fight but myself," said +the king; "and I don't think it becomes me to go +out and meet the like of you."</p> + +<p>"If you don't come out to me," said Cucúlin, +"I'll go in to you and cut the head off you in +your own castle."</p> + +<p>"That's enough of impudence from you, you +scoundrel," said the king of Greece. "I won't have +you come into my castle, but I'll meet you on the +open plain."</p> + +<p>The king went out, and they fought till Cucúlin +got the better of him, bound him head and heels, +and said: "I'll cut the head off you now unless +you give me the ring of youth and the rod of +enchantment that you took from the father of +Gil an Og."</p> + +<p>"Well, I did carry them away," said the king, +"but it wouldn't be easy for me now to give them +to you or to her; for there was a man who came +and carried them away, who could take them from +you and from me, and from as many more of us, if +they were here."</p> + +<p>"Who was that man?" asked Cucúlin.</p> + +<p>"His name," said the king, "is Lug<a name="FNanchor_12_12" id="FNanchor_12_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_12_12" class="fnanchor">12</a> Longhand. +And if I had known what you wanted, there would +have been no difference between us. I'll tell +you how I lost the ring and rod and I'll go with +you and show you where Lug Longhand lives. +But do you come to my castle. We'll have a +good time together."</p> + +<p>They set out next day, and never stopped till +they came opposite Lug Longhand castle, and +Cucúlin challenged his forces to combat.</p> + +<p>"I have no forces," said Lug, "but I'll fight<span class="pagenum">[216]</span> +you myself." So the combat began, and they +spent the whole day at one another, and neither +gained the victory.</p> + +<p>The king of Greece himself put up a tent on +the green in front of the castle, and prepared +everything necessary to eat and drink (there was +no one else to do it). After breakfast next day, +Cucúlin and Lug began fighting again. The king +of Greece looked on as the day before.</p> + +<p>They fought the whole day till near evening, +when Cucúlin got the upper hand of Lug Longhand +and bound him head and heels, saying: "I'll +cut the head off you now unless you give me the +rod and the ring that you carried away from the +king of Greece."</p> + +<p>"Oh, then," said Lug, "it would be hard for me +to give them to you or to him; for forces came and +took them from me; and they would have taken +them from you and from him, if you had been here."</p> + +<p>"Who in the world took them from you?" asked +the king of Greece.</p> + +<p>"Release me from this bond, and come to my +castle, and I'll tell you the whole story," said Lug +Longhand.</p> + +<p>Cucúlin released him, and they went to the +castle. They got good reception and entertainment +from Lug that night, and the following morning +as well. He said: "The ring and the rod were +taken from me by the knight of the island of the +Flood. This island is surrounded by a chain, and +there is a ring of fire seven miles wide between the +chain and the castle. No man can come near the +island without breaking the chain, and the moment +the chain is broken the fire stops burning at that +place; and the instant the fire goes down the knight +rushes out and attacks and slays every man that's +before him."<span class="pagenum">[217]</span> +The king of Greece, Cucúlin, and Lug Longhand +now sailed on in the speckled boat towards the +island of the Flood. On the following morning +when the speckled boat struck the chain, she was +thrown back three days' sail, and was near being +sunk, and would have gone to the bottom of the +sea but for her own goodness and strength.</p> + +<p>As soon as Cucúlin saw what had happened, he +took the oars, rowed on again, and drove the vessel +forward with such venom that she cut through +the chain and went one third of her length on to +dry land. That moment the fire was quenched +where the vessel struck, and when the knight of the +Island saw the fire go out, he rushed to the shore +and met Cucúlin, the king of Greece, and Lug +Longhand.</p> + +<p>When Cucúlin saw him, he threw aside his +weapons, caught him, raised him above his head, +hurled him down on the flat of his back, bound +him head and heels, and said: "I'll cut the head +off you unless you give me the ring and the rod +that you carried away from Lug Longhand."</p> + +<p>"I took them from him, it's true," said the +knight; "but it would be hard for me to give them +to you now; for a man came and took them from +me, who would have taken them from you and all +that are with you, and as many more if they had +been here before him."</p> + +<p>"Who in the world could that man be?" asked +Cucúlin.</p> + +<p>"The Dark Gruagach of the Northern Island. +Release me, and come to my castle. I'll tell you +all and entertain you well."</p> + +<p>He took them to his castle, gave them good +cheer, and told them all about the Gruagach and +his island. Next morning all sailed away in +Cucúlin's vessel, which they had left at the shore<span class="pagenum">[218]</span> +of the island, and never stopped till they came to +the Gruagach's castle, and pitched their tents in +front of it.</p> + +<p>Then Cucúlin challenged the Gruagach. The +others followed after to know would he thrive. +The Gruagach came out and faced Cucúlin, and +they began and spent the whole day at one another +and neither of them gained the upper hand. When +evening came, they stopped and prepared for +supper and the night.</p> + +<p>Next day after breakfast Cucúlin challenged +the Gruagach again, and they fought till evening; +when Cucúlin got the better in the struggle, disarmed +the Gruagach, bound him, and said: "Unless +you give up the rod of enchantment and the +ring of youth that you took from the knight of the +island of the Flood, I'll cut the head off you +now."</p> + +<p>"I took them from him, 'tis true; but there was +a man named Thin-in-Iron, who took them from +me, and he would have taken them from you and +from me, and all that are here, if there were twice +as many. He is such a man that sword cannot cut +him, fire cannot burn him, water cannot drown him, +and 'tis no easy thing to get the better of him. But +if you'll free me now and come to my castle, I'll +treat you well and tell you all about him." Cucúlin +agreed to this.</p> + +<p>Next morning they would not stop nor be +satisfied till they went their way. They found the +castle of Thin-in-Iron, and Cucúlin challenged him +to combat. They fought; and he was cutting the +flesh from Cucúlin, but Cucúlin's sword cut no +flesh from him. They fought till Cucúlin said: +"It is time now to stop till to-morrow."</p> + +<p>Cucúlin was scarcely able to reach the tent.<span class="pagenum">[219]</span> +They had to support him and put him to bed. Now, +who should come to Cucúlin that night but Gil +an Og, and she said: "You have gone further +than any man before you, and I'll cure you now, +and you need go no further for the rod of enchantment +and the ring of youth."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Cucúlin, "I'll never give over till I +knock another day's trial out of Thin-in-Iron."</p> + +<p>When it was time for rest, Gil an Og went away, +and Cucúlin fell asleep for himself. On the +following morning all his comrades were up and +facing his tent. They thought to see him dead, but +he was in as good health as ever.</p> + +<p>They prepared breakfast, and after breakfast +Cucúlin went before the door of the castle to +challenge his enemy.</p> + +<p>Thin-in-Iron thrust his head out and said: "That +man I fought yesterday has come again to-day. +It would have been a good deed if I had cut +the head off him last night. Then he wouldn't be +here to trouble me this morning. I won't come +home this day till I bring his head with me. Then +I'll have peace."</p> + +<p>They met in combat and fought till the night was +coming. Then Thin-in-Iron cried out for a cessation, +and if he did, Cucúlin was glad to give it; for +his sword had no effect upon Thin-in-Iron except +to tire and nearly kill him (he was enchanted and +no arms could cut him). When Thin-in-Iron went +to his castle, he threw up three sups of blood, and +said to his housekeeper: "Though his sword could +not penetrate me, he has nearly broken my heart."</p> + +<p>Cucúlin had to be carried to his tent. His comrades +laid him on his bed and said: "Whoever +came and healed him yesterday, may be the same +will be here to-night." They went away and were<span class="pagenum">[220]</span> +not long gone when Gil an Og came and said: +"Cucúlin, if you had done my bidding, you +wouldn't be as you are to-night. But if you neglect +my words now, you'll never see my face again. +I'll cure you this time and make you as well as +ever;" and whatever virtue she had she healed him +so he was as strong as before.</p> + +<p>"Oh, then," said Cucúlin, "whatever comes on +me I'll never turn back till I knock another day's +trial out of Thin-in-Iron."</p> + +<p>"Well," said she, "you are a stronger man than +he, but there is no good in working at him with a +sword. Throw your sword aside to-morrow, and +you'll get the better of him and bind him. You'll +not see me again."</p> + +<p>She went away and he fell asleep. His comrades +came in the morning and found him sleeping. +They got breakfast, and, after eating, Cucúlin went +out and called a challenge.</p> + +<p>"Oh, 'tis the same man as yesterday," said +Thin-in-Iron, "and if I had cut the head off him +then, it wouldn't be he that would trouble me +to-day. If I live for it, I'll bring his head in my +hand to-night, and he'll never disturb me again."</p> + +<p>When Cucúlin saw Thin-in-Iron coming, he +threw his sword aside, and facing him, caught him +by the body, raised him up, then dashed him to +the ground, and said, "If you don't give me what I +want, I'll cut the head off you."</p> + +<p>"What do you want of me?" asked Thin-in-Iron.</p> + +<p>"I want the rod of enchantment and the ring of +youth you carried from the Gruagach."</p> + +<p>"I did indeed carry them from him, but it would +be no easy thing for me to give them to you or +any other man; for a force came which took them +from me."<span class="pagenum">[221]</span> +</p> + +<p>"What could take them from you?" asked +Cucúlin.</p> + +<p>"The queen of the Wilderness, an old hag that +has them now. But release me from this bondage +and I'll take you to my castle and entertain you +well, and I'll go with you and the rest of the company +to see how will you thrive."</p> + +<p>So he took Cucúlin and his friends to the castle +and entertained them joyously, and he said: +"The old hag, the queen of the Wilderness, lives +in a round tower, which is always turning on +wheels. There is but one entrance to the tower, +and that high above the ground, and in the one +chamber in which she lives, keeping the ring and +the rod, is a chair, and she has but to sit on the +chair and wish herself in any part of the world, and +that moment she is there. She has six lines of +guards protecting her tower, and if you pass all +of these, you'll do what no man before you has +done to this day. The first guards are two lions +that rush out to know which of them will get the +first bite out of the throat of any one that tries to +pass. The second are seven men with iron hurlies +and an iron ball, and with their hurlies they wallop +the life out of any man that goes their way. The +third is Hung-up-Naked, who hangs on a tree with +his toes to the earth, his head cut from his shoulders +and lying on the ground, and who kills every +man who comes near him. The fourth is the bull +of the Mist that darkens the woods for seven miles +around, and destroys everything that enters the +Mist. The fifth are seven cats with poison tails; +and one drop of their poison would kill the +strongest man."</p> + +<p>Next morning all went with Cucúlin as far as the +lions who guarded the queen of the Wilderness,<span class="pagenum">[222]</span> +an old hag made young by the ring of youth. +The two lions ran at Cucúlin to see which would +have the first bite out of him.</p> + +<p>Cucúlin wore a red silk scarf around his neck +and had a fine head of hair. He cut the hair off +his head and wound it around one hand, took his +scarf and wrapped it around the other. Then rushing +at the lions, he thrust a hand down the throat +of each lion (for lions can bite neither silk nor +hair). He pulled the livers and lights out of the +two and they fell dead before him. His comrades +looking on, said: "You'll thrive now since you +have done this deed;" and they left him and went +home, each to his own country.</p> + +<p>Cucúlin went further. The next people he met +were the seven men with the iron hurlies (ball +clubs), and they said; "'Tis long since any man +walked this way to us; we'll have sport now."</p> + +<p>The first one said: "Give him a touch of the +hurly and let the others do the same; and we'll +wallop him till he is dead."</p> + +<p>Now Cucúlin drew his sword and cut the head +off the first man before he could make an offer of +the hurly at him; and then he did the same to the +other six.</p> + +<p>He went on his way till he came to Hung-up-Naked, +who was hanging from a tree, his head on +the ground near him. The queen of the Wilderness +had fastened him to the tree because he wouldn't +marry her; and she said: "If any man comes who +will put your head on you, you'll be free." And +she laid the injunction on him to kill every man +who tried to pass his way without putting the +head on him.</p> + +<p>Cucúlin went up, looked at him, and saw heaps<span class="pagenum">[223]</span> +of bones around the tree. The body said: "You +can't go by here. I fight with every man who tries +to pass."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm not going to fight with a man unless +he has a head on him. Take your head." And +Cucúlin, picking up the head, clapped it on the +body, and said, "Now I'll fight with you!"</p> + +<p>The man said: "I'm all right now. I know +where you are going. I'll stay here till you come; +if you conquer you'll not forget me. Take the +head off me now; put it where you found it; and +if you succeed, remember that I shall be here +before you on your way home."</p> + +<p>Cucúlin went on, but soon met the bull of the +Mist that covered seven miles of the wood with +thick mist. When the bull saw him, he made at +him and stuck a horn in his ribs and threw him +three miles into the wood, against a great oak +tree and broke three ribs in his side.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Cucúlin, when he recovered, "if I +get another throw like that, I'll not be good for +much exercise." He was barely on his feet when +the bull was at him again; but when he came up +he caught the bull by both horns and away they +went wrestling and struggling. For three days +and nights Cucúlin kept the bull in play, till the +morning of the fourth day, when he put him on +the flat of his back. Then he turned him on the +side, and putting a foot on one horn and taking the +other in his two hands, he said: "'Tis well I earned +you; there is not a stitch on me that isn't torn to +rags from wrestling with you." He pulled the +bull asunder from his horns to his tail, into two +equal parts, and said: "Now that I have you in +two, it's in quarters I'll put you." He took his<span class="pagenum">[224]</span> +sword, and when he struck the backbone of the +bull, the sword remained in the bone and he +couldn't pull it out.</p> + +<p>He walked away and stood awhile and looked. +"'Tis hard to say," said he, "that any good +champion would leave his sword behind him." So +he went back and made another pull and took the +hilt off his sword, leaving the blade in the back of +the bull. Then he went away tattered and torn, +the hilt in his hand, and he turned up towards the +forge of the Strong Smith. One of the Smith's +boys was out for coal at the time: he saw Cucúlin +coming with the hilt in his hand, and ran in, saying: +"There is a man coming up and he looks +like a fool; we'll have fun!"</p> + +<p>"Hold your tongue!" said the master. "Have +you heard any account of the bull of the Mist +these three days?"</p> + +<p>"We have not," said the boys.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps," said the Strong Smith, "that's a +good champion that's coming, and do you mind +yourselves."</p> + +<p>At that moment Cucúlin walked in to the forge +where twelve boys and the master were working. +He saluted them and asked, "Can you put a blade +in this hilt?"</p> + +<p>"We can," said the master. They put in the +blade. Cucúlin raised the sword and took a shake +out of it and broke it to bits.</p> + +<p>"This is a rotten blade," said he. "Go at it +again."</p> + +<p>They made a second blade. The boys were in +dread of him now. He broke the second blade in +the same way as the first. They made six blades, +one stronger than the other. He did the same to +them all.<span class="pagenum">[225]</span> +"There is no use in talking," said the Strong +Smith; "we have no stuff that would make a right +blade for you. Go down now," said he to two of +the boys, "and bring up an old sword that's down +in the stable full of rust."</p> + +<p>They went and brought up the sword on two +hand-spikes between them; it was so heavy that +one couldn't carry it. They gave it to Cucúlin, +and with one blow on his heel he knocked the dust +from it and went out at the door and took a shake +out of it; and if he did, he darkened the whole +place with the rust from the blade.</p> + +<p>"This is my sword, whoever made it," said he.</p> + +<p>"It is," said the master; "it's yours and welcome. +I know who you are now, and where you +are going. Remember that I'm in bondage here." +The Strong Smith took Cucúlin then to his house, +gave him refreshment and clothes for the journey. +When he was ready, the Smith said: "I hope +you'll thrive. You have done a deal more than +any man that ever walked this way before. There +is nothing now to stand in your way till you come +to the seven cats outside the turning tower. If +they shake their tails and a drop of poison comes +on you, it will penetrate to your heart. You must +sweep off their tails with your sword. 'Tis equal +to you what their bodies will do after that."</p> + +<p>Cucúlin soon came to them and there wasn't +one of the seven cats he didn't strip of her tail +before she knew he was in it. He cared nothing +for the bodies so he had the tails. The cats ran +away.</p> + +<p>Now he faced the tower turning on wheels. The +queen of the Wilderness was in it. He had been +told by Thin-in-Iron that he must cut the axle. +He found the axle, cut it, and the tower stopped<span class="pagenum">[226]</span> +that instant. Cucúlin made a spring and went in +through the single passage.</p> + +<p>The old hag was preparing to sit on the chair as +she saw him coming. He sprang forward, pushed +the chair away with one hand, and, catching her by +the back of the neck with the other, said: "You +are to lose your head now, old woman!"</p> + +<p>"Spare me, and what you want you'll get," said +she. "I have the ring of youth and the rod of +enchantment," and she gave them to him. He +put the ring on his finger, and saying, "You'll +never do mischief again to man!" he turned her +face to the entrance, and gave her a kick. Out +she flew through the opening and down to the +ground, where she broke her neck and died on +the spot.</p> + +<p>Cucúlin made the Strong Smith king over all +the dominions of the queen of the Wilderness, and +proclaimed that any person in the country who +refused to obey the new king would be put to +death.</p> + +<p>Cucúlin turned back at once, and travelled till +he came to Hung-up-Naked. He took him down, +and putting the head on his body, struck him a +blow of the rod and made the finest looking man +of him that could be found. The man went back +to his own home happy and well.</p> + +<p>Cucúlin never stopped till he came to the castle +of Gil an Og. She was outside with a fine welcome +before him; and why not, to be sure, for +he had the rod of enchantment and the ring of +youth!</p> + +<p>When she entered the castle and took the form +of a cat, he struck her a blow of the rod and she +gained the same form and face she had before +the king of Greece struck her. Then he asked, +"Where is your sister?"<span class="pagenum">[227]</span> +"In the lake there outside," answered Gil an Og, +"in the form of a sea-serpent." She went out with +him, and the moment they came to the edge of +the lake the sister rose up near them. Then +Cucúlin struck her with the rod and she came to +land in her own shape and countenance.</p> + +<p>Next day they saw a deal of vessels facing the +harbor, and what should they be but a fleet of +ships, and on the ships were the king of Greece, +Lug Longhand, the knight of the island of the +Flood, the Dark Guagach of the Northern Island +and Thin-in-Iron: and they came each in his +own vessel to know was there any account of +Cucúlin. There was good welcome for them all, +and when they had feasted and rejoiced together +Cucúlin married Gil an Og. The king of Greece +took Gil an Og's sister, who was his own wife at +first, and went home.</p> + +<p>Cucúlin went away himself with his wife Gil an +Og, never stopping till he came to Erin; and when +he came, Fin MacCumhail and his men were at +KilConaly, near the river Shannon.</p> + +<p>When Cucúlin went from Erin he left a son +whose mother was called the Virago of Alba: +she was still alive and the son was eighteen years +old. When she heard that Cucúlin had brought +Gil an Og to Erin, she was enraged with jealousy +and madness. She had reared the son, whose +name was Conlán, like any king's son, and now +giving him his arms of a champion she told him to +go to his father.</p> + +<p>"I would," said he, "if I knew who my father is."</p> + +<p>"His name is Cucúlin, and he is with Fin +MacCumhail. I bind you not to yield to any +man," said she to her son, "nor tell your name to +any man till you fight him out."</p> + +<p>Conlán started from Ulster where his mother<span class="pagenum">[228]</span> +was, and never stopped till he was facing Fin and +his men, who were hunting that day along the +cliffs of KilConaly.</p> + +<p>When the young man came up Fin said, "There +is a single man facing us."</p> + +<p>Conan Maol said, "Let some one go against +him, ask who he is and what he wants."</p> + +<p>"I never give an account of myself to any man," +said Conlán, "till I get an account from him."</p> + +<p>"There is no man among us," said Conan, +"bound in that way but Cucúlin." They called on +Cucúlin; he came up and the two fought. Conlán +knew by the description his mother had given that +Cucúlin was his father, but Cucúlin did not know +his son. Every time Conlán aimed his spear he +threw it so as to strike the ground in front of +Cucúlin's toe, but Cucúlin aimed straight at him.</p> + +<p>They were at one another three days and three +nights. The son always sparing the father, the +father never sparing the son.</p> + +<p>Conan Maol came to them the fourth morning. +"Cucúlin," said he, "I didn't expect to see any +man standing against you three days, and you such +a champion."</p> + +<p>When Conlán heard Conan Maol urging the +father to kill him, he gave a bitter look at Conan, +and forgot his guard. Cucúlin's spear went through +his head that minute, and he fell. "I die of that +blow from my father," said he.</p> + +<p>"Are you my son?" said Cucúlin.</p> + +<p>"I am," said Conlán.</p> + +<p>Cucúlin took his sword and cut the head off him +sooner than leave him in the punishment and pain +he was in. Then he faced all the people, and Fin +was looking on.</p> + +<p>"There's trouble on Cucúlin," said Fin.<span class="pagenum">[229]</span> +"Chew your thumb," said Conan Maol, "to +know what's on him."</p> + +<p>Fin chewed his thumb, and said, "Cucúlin is +after killing his own son, and if I and all my men +were to face him before his passion cools, at the +end of seven days, he'd destroy every man of us."</p> + +<p>"Go now," said Conan, "and bind him to go +down to Bale strand and give seven days' fighting +against the waves of the sea, rather than kill us +all."</p> + +<p>So Fin bound him to go down. When he went +to Bale strand Cucúlin found a great white stone. +He grasped his sword in his right hand and cried +out: "If I had the head of the woman who sent +her son into peril of death at my hand, I'd split it +as I split this stone," and he made four quarters of +the stone. Then he strove with the waves seven +days and nights till he fell from hunger and weakness, +and the waves went over him. +<span class="pagenum">[230]</span></p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<h2> + <a name="CHAPTER_20" id="CHAPTER_20"></a> + OISIN IN TIR NA N-OG. +</h2> + +<p class="dropcap">THERE was a king in Tir na n-Og (the land +of Youth) who held the throne and crown +for many a year against all comers; and the law +of the kingdom was that every seventh year the +champions and best men of the country should +run for the office of king.</p> + +<p>Once in seven years they all met at the front of +the palace and ran to the top of a hill two miles +distant. On the top of that hill was a chair and +the man that sat first in the chair was king of Tir +na n-Og for the next seven years. After he had +ruled for ages, the king became anxious; he was +afraid that some one might sit in the chair before +him, and take the crown off his head. So he +called up his Druid one day and asked: "How +long shall I keep the chair to rule this land, and +will any man sit in it before me and take the +crown off my head?"</p> + +<p>"You will keep the chair and the crown forever," +said the Druid, "unless your own son-in-law +takes them from you."</p> + +<p>The king had no sons and but one daughter, +the finest woman in Tir na n-Og; and the like of +her could not be found in Erin or any kingdom in +the world. When the king heard the words of +the Druid, he said, "I'll have no son-in-law, for +I'll put the daughter in a way no man will marry +her."</p> + +<p>Then he took a rod of Druidic spells, and calling +the daughter up before him, he struck her with the +rod, and put a pig's head on her in place of her +own.<span class="pagenum">[231]</span> +Then he sent the daughter away to her own +place in the castle, and turning to the Druid said: +"There is no man that will marry her now."</p> + +<p>When the Druid saw the face that was on the +princess with the pig's head that the father gave +her, he grew very sorry that he had given such +information to the king; and some time after he +went to see the princess.</p> + +<p>"Must I be in this way forever?" asked she of +the Druid.</p> + +<p>"You must," said he, "till you marry one of +the sons of Fin MacCumhail in Erin. If you marry +one of Fin's sons, you'll be freed from the blot +that is on you now, and get back your own head +and countenance."</p> + +<p>When she heard this she was impatient in her +mind, and could never rest till she left Tir na n-Og +and came to Erin. When she had inquired she +heard that Fin and the Fenians of Erin were at +that time living on Knock an Ar, and she made +her way to the place without delay and lived there +a while; and when she saw Oisin, he pleased her; +and when she found out that he was a son of Fin +MacCumhail, she was always making up to him and +coming towards him. And it was usual for the +Fenians in those days to go out hunting on the +hills and mountains and in the woods of Erin, and +when one of them went he always took five or six +men with him to bring home the game.</p> + +<p>On a day Oisin set out with his men and dogs to +the woods; and he went so far and killed so much +game that when it was brought together, the men +were so tired, weak, and hungry that they couldn't +carry it, but went away home and left him with +the three dogs, Bran, Sciolán, and Buglén,<a name="FNanchor_13_13" id="FNanchor_13_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_13_13" class="fnanchor">13</a> to shift +for himself.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum">[232]</span> +Now the daughter of the king of Tir na n-Og, +who was herself the queen of Youth, followed +closely in the hunt all that day, and when the men +left Oisin she came up to him; and as he stood +looking at the great pile of game and said, "I am +very sorry to leave behind anything that I've had +the trouble of killing," she looked at him and +said, "Tie up a bundle for me, and I'll carry it to +lighten the load off you."</p> + +<p>Oisin gave her a bundle of the game to carry, +and took the remainder himself. The evening +was very warm and the game heavy, and after +they had gone some distance, Oisin said, "Let us +rest a while." Both threw down their burdens, and +put their backs against a great stone that was by +the roadside. The woman was heated and out of +breath, and opened her dress to cool herself. +Then Oisin looked at her and saw her beautiful +form and her white bosom.</p> + +<p>"Oh, then," said he, "it's a pity you have the +pig's head on you; for I have never seen such an +appearance on a woman in all my life before."</p> + +<p>"Well," said she, "my father is the king of +Tir na n-Og, and I was the finest woman in his +kingdom and the most beautiful of all, till he put +me under a Druidic spell and gave me the pig's +head that's on me now in place of my own. And +the Druid of Tir na n-Og came to me afterwards, +and told me that if one of the sons of Fin MacCumhail +would marry me, the pig's head would +vanish, and I should get back my face in the same +form as it was before my father struck me with +the Druid's wand. When I heard this I never +stopped till I came to Erin, where I found your +father and picked you out among the sons of Fin +MacCumhail, and followed you to see would you +marry me and set me free."<span class="pagenum">[233]</span> +</p> + +<p>"If that is the state you are in, and if marriage +with me will free you from the spell, I'll not leave +the pig's head on you long."</p> + +<p>So they got married without delay, not waiting +to take home the game or to lift it from the +ground. That moment the pig's head was gone, +and the king's daughter had the same face and +beauty that she had before her father struck her +with the Druidic wand.</p> + +<p>"Now," said the queen of Youth to Oisin, "I +cannot stay here long, and unless you come with +me to Tir na n-Og we must part."</p> + +<p>"Oh," said Oisin, "wherever you go I'll go, +and wherever you turn I'll follow."</p> + +<p>Then she turned and Oisin went with her, not +going back to Knock an Ar to see his father or his +son. That very day they set out for Tir na n-Og +and never stopped till they came to her father's +castle; and when they came, there was a welcome +before them, for the king thought his daughter +was lost. That same year there was to be a choice +of a king, and when the appointed day came at +the end of the seventh year all the great men and +the champions, and the king himself, met together +at the front of the castle to run and see who should +be first in the chair on the hill; but before a man +of them was halfway to the hill, Oisin was sitting +above in the chair before them. After that time +no one stood up to run for the office against Oisin, +and he spent many a happy year as king in Tir na +n-Og. At last he said to his wife: "I wish I could +be in Erin to-day to see my father and his men."</p> + +<p>"If you go," said his wife, "and set foot on the +land of Erin, you'll never come back here to me, +and you'll become a blind old man. How long +do you think it is since you came here?"</p> + +<p>"About three years," said Oisin.<span class="pagenum">[234]</span> +"It is three hundred years," said she, "since +you came to this kingdom with me. If you must +go to Erin, I'll give you this white steed to carry +you; but if you come down from the steed or +touch the soil of Erin with your foot, the steed +will come back that minute, and you'll be where +he left you, a poor old man."</p> + +<p>"I'll come back, never fear," said Oisin. "Have +I not good reason to come back? But I must see +my father and my son and my friends in Erin once +more; I must have even one look at them."</p> + +<p>She prepared the steed for Oisin and said, "This +steed will carry you wherever you wish to go."</p> + +<p>Oisin never stopped till the steed touched the +soil of Erin; and he went on till he came to +Knock Patrick in Munster, where he saw a man +herding cows. In the field, where the cows were +grazing there was a broad flat stone.</p> + +<p>"Will you come here," said Oisin to the herdsman, +"and turn over this stone?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed, then, I will not," said the herdsman; +"for I could not lift it, nor twenty men more +like me."</p> + +<p>Oisin rode up to the stone, and, reaching down, +caught it with his hand and turned it over. +Underneath the stone was the great horn of the +Fenians (<i>borabu</i>), which circled round like a seashell, +and it was the rule that when any of the +Fenians of Erin blew the borabu, the others would +assemble at once from whatever part of the country +they might be in at the time.</p> + +<p>"Will you bring this horn to me!" asked Oisin +of the herdsman.</p> + +<p>"I will not," said the herdsman; "for neither I +nor many more like me could raise it from the +ground."<span class="pagenum">[235]</span> +With that Oisin moved near the horn, and +reaching down took it in his hand; but so eager +was he to blow it, that he forgot everything, and +slipped in reaching till one foot touched the earth. +In an instant the steed was gone, and Oisin lay +on the ground a blind old man. The herdsman +went to Saint Patrick, who lived near by, and told +him what had happened.</p> + +<p>Saint Patrick sent a man and a horse for Oisin, +brought him to his own house, gave him a room +by himself, and sent a boy to stay with him to +serve and take care of him. And Saint Patrick +commanded his cook to send Oisin plenty of meat +and drink, to give him bread and beef and butter +every day.</p> + +<p>Now Oisin lived a while in this way. The cook +sent him provisions each day, and Saint Patrick +himself asked him all kinds of questions about the +old times of the Fenians of Erin. Oisin told him +about his father, Fin MacCumhail, about himself, +his son Osgar, Goll MacMorna, Conan Maol, +Diarmuid, and all the Fenian heroes; how they +fought, feasted, and hunted, how they came under +Druidic spells, and how they were freed from +them.</p> + +<p>At the same time, Saint Patrick was putting up +a great building; but what his men used to put +up in the daytime was levelled at night, and Saint +Patrick lamented over his losses in the hearing of +Oisin. Then Oisin said in the hearing of Saint +Patrick, "If I had my strength and my sight, I'd +put a stop to the power that is levelling your +work."</p> + +<p>"Do you think you'd be able to do that," said +Saint Patrick, "and let my building go on?"</p> + +<p>"I do, indeed," said Oisin.<span class="pagenum">[236]</span> +So Saint Patrick prayed to the Lord, and the +sight and strength came back to Oisin. He went +to the woods and got a great club and stood at +the building on guard.</p> + +<p>What should come in the night but a great +beast in the form of a bull, which began to uproot +and destroy the work. But if he did Oisin faced +him, and the battle began hot and heavy between +the two; but in the course of the night Oisin got +the upper hand of the bull and left him dead before +the building. Then he stretched out on the +ground himself and fell asleep.</p> + +<p>Now Saint Patrick was waiting at home to know +how would the battle come out, and thinking +Oisin too long away he sent a messenger to the +building; and when the messenger came he saw +the ground torn up, a hill in one place and a +hollow in the next. The bull was dead and Oisin +sleeping after the desperate battle. He went back +and told what he saw.</p> + +<p>"Oh," said Saint Patrick, "it's better to knock +the strength out of him again; for he'll kill us all +if he gets vexed."</p> + +<p>Saint Patrick took the strength out of him, and +when Oisin woke up he was a blind old man and +the messenger went out and brought him home.</p> + +<p>Oisin lived on for a time as before. The cook +sent him his food, the boy served him, and Saint +Patrick listened to the stories of the Fenians of +Erin.</p> + +<p>Saint Patrick had a neighbor, a Jew, a very rich +man but the greatest miser in the kingdom, and +he had the finest haggart of corn in Erin. Well, +the Jew and Saint Patrick got very intimate with +one another and so great became the friendship +of the Jew for Saint Patrick at last, that he said<span class="pagenum">[237]</span> +he'd give him, for the support of his house, as +much corn as one man could thrash out of the +haggart<a name="FNanchor_14_14" id="FNanchor_14_14"></a><a href="#Footnote_14_14" class="fnanchor">14</a> in a day.</p> + +<p>When Saint Patrick went home after getting the +promise of the corn, he told in the hearing of +Oisin about what the Jew had said.</p> + +<p>"Oh, then," said Oisin, "if I had my sight and +strength, I'd thrash as much corn in one day as +would do your whole house for a twelvemonth +and more."</p> + +<p>"Will you do that for me?" said Saint Patrick.</p> + +<p>"I will," said Oisin.</p> + +<p>Saint Patrick prayed again to the Lord, and the +sight and strength came back to Oisin. He went +to the woods next morning at daybreak, Oisin did, +pulled up two fine ash-trees and made a flail of +them. After eating his breakfast he left the house +and never stopped till he faced the haggart of the +Jew. Standing before one of the stacks of wheat +he hit it a wallop of his flail and broke it asunder. +He kept on in this way till he slashed the whole +haggart to and fro,—and the Jew running like mad +up and down the highroad in front of the haggart, +tearing the hair from his head when he saw what +was doing to his wheat, and the face gone from +him entirely he was so in dread of Oisin.</p> + +<p>When the haggart was thrashed clean, Oisin +went to Saint Patrick and told him to send his +men for the wheat; for he had thrashed out the +whole haggart. When Saint Patrick saw the +countenance that was on Oisin, and heard what he +had done he was greatly in dread of him, and +knocked the strength out of him again, and Oisin +became an old, blind man as before.</p> + +<p>Saint Patrick's men went to the haggart and<span class="pagenum">[238]</span> +there was so much wheat they didn't bring the +half of it away with them and they didn't want +it.</p> + +<p>Oisin again lived for a while as before and then +he was vexed because the cook didn't give him +what he wanted. He told Saint Patrick that he +wasn't getting enough to eat. Then Saint Patrick +called up the cook before himself and Oisin and +asked her what she was giving Oisin to eat. She +said: "I give him at every meal what bread is +baked on a large griddle and all the butter I make +in one churn, and a quarter of beef besides."</p> + +<p>"That ought to be enough for you," said Saint +Patrick.</p> + +<p>"Oh, then," said Oisin, turning to the cook, +"I have often seen the leg of a blackbird bigger +than the quarter of beef you give me, I have often +seen an ivy leaf bigger than the griddle on which +you bake the bread for me, and I have often seen +a single rowan berry [the mountain ash berry] +bigger than the bit of butter you give me to +eat."</p> + +<p>"You lie!" said the cook, "you never did."</p> + +<p>Oisin said not a word in answer.</p> + +<p>Now there was a hound in the place that was +going to have her first whelps, and Oisin said to +the boy who was tending him: "Do you mind +and get the first whelp she'll have and drown the +others."</p> + +<p>Next morning the boy found three whelps, and +coming back to Oisin, said: "There are three +whelps and 'tis unknown which of them is the +first."</p> + +<p>At Saint Patrick's house they had slaughtered +an ox the day before, and Oisin said: "Go now +and bring the hide of the ox and hang it up in +this room." When the hide was hung up Oisin<span class="pagenum">[239]</span> +said, "Bring here the three whelps and throw +them up against the hide." The boy threw up +one of the whelps against the oxhide. "What +did he do?" asked Oisin.</p> + +<p>"What did he do," said the boy, "but fall to +the ground."</p> + +<p>"Throw up another," said Oisin. The boy +threw another. "What did he do?" asked Oisin.</p> + +<p>"What did he do but to fall the same as the +first."</p> + +<p>The third whelp was thrown and he held fast to +the hide,—didn't fall. "What did he do?" +asked Oisin.</p> + +<p>"Oh," said the boy, "he kept his hold."</p> + +<p>"Take him down," said Oisin; "give him to +the mother: bring both in here; feed the mother +well and drown the other two."</p> + +<p>The boy did as he was commanded, and fed the +two well, and when the whelp grew up the mother +was banished, the whelp chained up and fed for +a year and a day. And when the year and a day +were spent, Oisin said, "We'll go hunting to-morrow, +and we'll take the dog with us."</p> + +<p>They went next day, the boy guiding Oisin, +holding the dog by a chain. They went first to +the place where Oisin had touched earth and lost +the magic steed from Tir na n-Og. The borabu +of the Fenians of Erin was lying on the ground +there still. Oisin took it up and they went on to +Glen na Smuil (Thrush's Glen). When at the +edge of the glen Oisin began to sound the borabu. +Birds and beasts of every kind came hurrying +forward. He blew the horn till the glen was full +of them from end to end.</p> + +<p>"What do you see now?" asked he of the boy.</p> + +<p>"The glen is full of living things."</p> + +<p>"What is the dog doing?"<span class="pagenum">[240]</span> +"He is looking ahead and his hair is on end."</p> + +<p>"Do you see anything else?"</p> + +<p>"I see a great bird all black settling down on +the north side of the glen."</p> + +<p>"That's what I want," said Oisin; "what is the +dog doing now?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, the eyes are coming out of his head, and +there isn't a rib of hair on his body that isn't +standing up."</p> + +<p>"Let him go now," said Oisin. The boy let +slip the chain and the dog rushed through the +glen killing everything before him. When all the +others were dead he turned to the great blackbird +and killed that. Then he faced Oisin and the boy +and came bounding toward them with venom and +fierceness. Oisin drew out of his bosom a brass +ball and said: "If you don't throw this into the +dog's mouth he'll destroy us both; knock the dog +with the ball or he'll tear us to pieces."</p> + +<p>"Oh," said the boy, "I'll never be able to +throw the ball, I'm so in dread of the dog."</p> + +<p>"Come here at my back, then," said Oisin, +"and straighten my hand towards the dog." The +boy directed the hand and Oisin threw the ball +into the dog's mouth and killed him on the spot.</p> + +<p>"What have we done?" asked Oisin.</p> + +<p>"Oh, the dog is knocked," said the boy.</p> + +<p>"We are all right then," said Oisin, "and do +you lead me now to the blackbird of the carn, +I don't care for the others."</p> + +<p>They went to the great bird, kindled a fire and +cooked all except one of its legs. Then Oisin ate +as much as he wanted and said; "I've had a +good meal of my own hunting and it's many +and many a day since I have had one. Now +let us go on farther."<span class="pagenum">[241]</span> +They went into the woods, and soon Oisin asked +the boy; "Do you see anything wonderful?"</p> + +<p>"I see an ivy with the largest leaves I have ever +set eyes on."</p> + +<p>"Take one leaf of that ivy," said Oisin.</p> + +<p>The boy took the leaf. Near the ivy they found +a rowan berry, and then went home taking the +three things with them,—the blackbird's leg, the +ivy leaf, and the rowan berry. When they reached +the house Oisin called for the cook, and Saint +Patrick made her come to the fore. When she +came Oisin pointed to the blackbird's leg and +asked, "Which is larger, that leg or the quarter +of beef you give me?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, that is a deal larger," said the cook.</p> + +<p>"You were right in that case," said Saint Patrick +to Oisin.</p> + +<p>Then Oisin drew out the ivy leaf and asked, +"Which is larger, this or the griddle on which you +made bread for me?"</p> + +<p>"That is larger than the griddle and the bread +together," said the cook.</p> + +<p>"Right again," said Saint Patrick.</p> + +<p>Oisin now took out the rowan berry and asked: +"Which is larger, this berry or the butter of one +churning which you give me?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, that is bigger," said the cook, "than both +the churn and the butter."</p> + +<p>"Right, every time," said Saint Patrick.</p> + +<p>Then Oisin raised his arm and swept the head +off the cook with a stroke from the edge of his +hand, saying, "You'll never give the lie to an +honest man again." +<span class="pagenum">[243]</span></p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<h2> + <a name="CHAPTER_21" id="CHAPTER_21"></a> + NOTES. +</h2> + +<p><i>Aedh Curucha</i> (<i>Aedh Crochtha</i>), Hugh, the "suspended" +or "hung up." As Aedh means also a fire-spark +as well as the modern name Hugh, Aedh Curucha +means the hung up or suspended fire-spark.</p> + +<p><i>Alba</i>, former name of Scotland.</p> + +<p><i>Bar an Súan</i>, "pin of slumber," met with frequently in +Gaelic mythology, is found among the Slavs, but not so +often. It appears in a Russian story,—one of the most +beautiful in European folk-lore.</p> + +<p><i>Cesa MacRi na Tulach</i>, "Cesa, son of the king of the +hill," said by my Donegal informant to be a small dark-gray +bird.</p> + +<p><i>Cúrucha na Gros</i> (<i>Crochtha na g-cros</i>), "hung on the +crosses," is a very interesting name, as is also that of the +father of Fair, Brown, and Trembling, Aedh Curucha, <i>q. v.</i></p> + +<p><i>Conán Maol MacMorna</i>, the Gaelic Thersites, always +railing, causing trouble, unpopular, and attracting attention. +This species of person is as well known in the mythology +of the North American Indians as in Aryan myths.</p> + +<p><i>Diachbha</i> (pronounced Dyeéachva), "divinity," or the +working of a power outside of us in shaping the careers +of men; fate.</p> + +<p><i>Diarmuid</i> (pronounced Dyeearmud), the final <i>d</i> sounded +as if one were to begin to utter <i>y</i> after it, one of the +most remarkable characters in Gaelic mythology, a great +hunter and performer of marvellous feats. The prominent +event of his life was the carrying off of Grainne, +bride of Fin MacCumhail, at her own command. After +many years of baffled pursuit, Fin was forced to make<span class="pagenum">[244]</span> +peace; but he contrived at last to bring about Diarmuid's +death by causing him to hunt an enchanted boar of green +color and without ears or tail. The account of this pursuit +and the death of Diarmuid forms one of the celebrated +productions of Gaelic literature. Diarmuid had +a mole on his forehead, which he kept covered usually; +but when it was laid bare and a woman saw it, she fell +in love with him beyond recall. This was why Grainne +deserted Fin, not after she was married, but at the feast +of betrothal. The evident meaning of the word is "bright" +or "divine-weaponed." It is very interesting to find Diarmuid +called also Son of the Monarch of Light, in another +story.</p> + +<p><i>Donoch Kam cosa</i>, "Donoch, crooked feet."</p> + +<p><i>Draoiachta</i> (pronounced Dreéachta), "Druidism," or +"enchantment."</p> + +<p><i>Érineach</i>, or <i>Eirineach</i>, "a man of Erin."</p> + +<p><i>Gil an Og</i>, "water of youth."</p> + +<p><i>Gilla na Grakin</i> (<i>Gilla na g-croicean</i>), "the fellow (or +youth) of the skins,"—<i>i. e.</i>, the serving man of the skins. +This word "Gilla" enters into the formation of many +Gaelic names, such as Gilchrist, Gilfillin, MacGillacuddy.</p> + +<p><i>Grúagach</i> (pronounced <i>Gróoagach</i>), "the hairy one," +from <i>grúag</i>, hair. We are more likely to be justified in +finding a solar agent concealed in the person of the laughing +Gruagach or the Gruagach of tricks than in many of +the sun-myths put forth by some modern writers.</p> + +<p><i>Inis Caol</i>, "light island,"—<i>i. e.</i>, not heavy.</p> + +<p><i>Iron-back-without-action</i> (<i>Ton iaran gan tapuil</i>).</p> + +<p><i>Knock an Ár</i>, "hill of slaughter," a mountain near the +mouth of the Shannon in Kerry.</p> + +<p><i>Lun Dubh MacSmola</i>, "blackbird," son of thrush.</p> + +<p><i>Mal MacMulcan.</i> Mulcan in this name is evidently +Vulcan, substituted for some old Gaelic myth-power.</p> + +<p><i>Oisin.</i> In the Gaelic of Ireland this name is accented +on the last syllable; in that of Scotland on the first, which +gives in English Ossian, the poet made known to the +world by Macpherson. The poems of Ossian are of course +nothing more nor less than the ballads of Fin MacCumhail +and the Fenians of Erin, taken from Ireland to Scotland<span class="pagenum">[245]</span> +by the Gael when they settled in the latter country, +and modified in some degree by Macpherson. Oisin is +pronounced Ushéen in Ireland, <i>u</i> sounded as in <i>but</i>.</p> + +<p><i>Ri Fohín</i> (<i>Ri fo thuinn</i>), "king under the wave."</p> + +<p><i>Sean Ruadh</i>, "John the Red," pronounced Shawn +Roo.</p> + +<p><i>Tisean</i> (pronounced <i>Tishyán</i>; <i>an</i> as in <i>pan</i>), "envy." +Son of King Tisean means "Son of King Envy."</p> + +<p><i>Urféist.</i> This word is made up of <i>Ur</i> and <i>péist</i>. <i>Ur</i> +is kindred with the German <i>Ur</i>, and in a compound like +this means the "original" or "greatest." <i>Péist</i>—"worm," +"beast," "monster"—is changed to <i>féist</i> here, +according to a rule of aspiration in Gaelic grammar.</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<p class="h3">Footnotes</p> + +<div class="footnote"> + <p class="noin"> + <a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"> + </a> + <a href="#FNanchor_1_1"> + <span class="label">1 + </span> + </a> + Loch Léin, former name of one of the Lakes of Killarney. + </p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">2</span></a> Lochlin,—Denmark.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">3</span></a> The ancient Emania in Ulster.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">4</span></a> Shee an Gannon, in Gaelic "Sighe an Gannon," the fairy +of the Gannon.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">5</span></a> The laughing Gruagach.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">6</span></a> Sasenach, English.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">7</span></a> Pronounced ná glássan.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"> + <p class="noin"> + <a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8"> + </a> + <a href="#FNanchor_8_8"> + <span class="label">8 + </span> + </a> + Diachbha, "divinity," "fate." + </p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_9_9" id="Footnote_9_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9_9"><span class="label">9</span></a> Urfeist, "great serpent."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_10_10" id="Footnote_10_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10_10"><span class="label">10</span></a> Cumhail, genitive of Cumhal, after Mac = son; pronounced Cool.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_11_11" id="Footnote_11_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_11_11"><span class="label">11</span></a> Cumhal, the name of Fin's father. Denotes also a cap +or head-covering, fin = white. The punning resemblance +suggested to the old woman the full name, Fin MacCumhail.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_12_12" id="Footnote_12_12"></a><a href="#FNanchor_12_12"><span class="label">12</span></a> Pronounced "Loog."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"> + <p class="noin"> + <a name="Footnote_13_13" id="Footnote_13_13"> + </a> + <a href="#FNanchor_13_13"> + <span class="label">13 + </span> + </a> + Celebrated dogs of Fin MacCumhail. + </p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="noin"><a name="Footnote_14_14" id="Footnote_14_14"></a><a href="#FNanchor_14_14"><span class="label">14</span></a> Haggart, hay-yard.</p></div> + +<br /> +<br /> + +<div class="trnote"> + <p class="cen"> + Transcriber's Note: + </p> + + <p class="noin"> + This e-text has been produced from the 1975 Dover edition of <i>Myths and Folk Tales of Ireland</i> + (ISBN 0-486-22430-9), which is an unabridged republication of the work + originally published in Boston by Little, Brown and Company in 1890 under + the title <i>Myths and Folk-Lore of Ireland</i>. The 1975 Dover edition did not + contain the original introduction, frontispiece and dedication. + </p> + + <p class="noin"> + Minor punctuation errors have been changed without notice. + </p> + + <p class="noin"> + Archaic inconsistent spelling and all other anomalies + such as <i>if</i> and <i>when</i> used interchangeably are as in the original. + </p> +</div> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> + </div> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MYTHS AND FOLK TALES OF IRELAND***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 36540-h.txt or 36540-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/6/5/4/36540">http://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/5/4/36540</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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