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