 16 The Storyteller at Fault At the time when the Tuatha de Danon held the sovereignty of Ireland, there reigned in Lentster, a king who was remarkably fond of hearing stories, like the other princes and chieftains of the island, he had a favourite storyteller, who held a large estate from his majesty on condition of telling him a new story every night of his life before he went to sleep. Many indeed were the stories he knew, so that he had already reached a good old age without failing even for a single night in his task, and such was the skill he displayed that whatever cares of state or other annoyances might prey upon the monarch's mind, his storyteller was sure to send him to sleep. One morning the storyteller arose early, and as his custom was, strolled out into his garden, turning over in his mind incidents which he might weave into a story for the king at night. But this morning he found himself quite at fault. After pacing his whole demesna, he returned to his house without being able to think of anything new or strange. He found no difficulty in there was once a king who had three sons, or one day the king of all island, but further than that he could not get. At length he went into breakfast, and found his wife much perplexed at his delay. Why don't you come to breakfast, my dear? said she. I have no mind to eat anything, replied the storyteller. Long as I have been in the service of the king of Lenster, I never sat down to breakfast without having a new story ready for the evening. But this morning my mind is quite shut up, and I don't know what to do. I might as well lie down and die at once. I'll be disgraced forever this evening, when the king calls for his storyteller. Just at this moment the lady looked out of the window. Do you see that black thing at the end of the field? said she. I do, replied her husband. They drew nigh, and saw a miserable-looking old man lying on the ground, with a wooden leg placed beside him. Who are you, my good man? asked the storyteller. Oh, then, tis little matter who I am. I'm a poor old lame decrepit, miserable creature sitting down here to rest awhile. And what are you doing with that box and dice I see in your hand? I'm waiting here to see if anyone will play a game with me, replied the beggar man. Play with you? Why, what has a poor old man like you to play for? I have one hundred pieces of gold in this leaven purse, replied the old man. You may as well play with him, said the storyteller's wife, and perhaps you'll have something to tell the king in the evening. A smooth stone was placed between them, and upon it they cast their throws. It was but a little while, and the storyteller lost every penny of his money. Much good may it do you, friend, said he. What better hat could I look for, fool that I am? Will you play again? asked the old man. Don't be talking, man. You have all my money. Haven't you chariots and horses and hounds? Well, what of them? I'll stick all my money I have against line. Nonsense, man. Do you think for all the money in Ireland I'd run the risk of seeing my lady tramp home on foot? Maybe you'd win, said the booger. Maybe I wouldn't, said the storyteller. Play with him, husband, said the wife. I don't mind walking if you do love. I never refused you before, said the storyteller, and I won't do so now. Down he sat again, and in one throw lost houses, hounds, and chariot. Will you play again? asked the beggar. Are you making game of me, man? What else have I to stake? I'll stake all my winnings against your wife, said the old man. The storyteller turned away in silence, but his wife stopped him. Accept his offer, said she. This is the third time, and who knows what luck you may have. You'll surely win now. They played again, and the storyteller lost. No sooner had he done so than to his sorrow and surprise. His wife went and sat down near the ugly old beggar. Is that the way you're leaving me? said the storyteller. Sure I was one, said she. You would not cheat the poor man, would you? Have you any more to stake? asked the old man. You know very well I have not, replied the storyteller. I'll stake the whole now, wife and all, against your own self, said the old man. Again they played, and again the storyteller lost. Well, here I am, and what do you want with me? I'll soon let you know, said the old man, and he took from his pocket a long cord and a wand. Now, said he to the storyteller, what kind of animal would you rather be? A deer, a fox, or a hare? You have your choice now, but you may not have it later. To make a long story short, the storyteller made his choice of a hare. The old man threw the cord around him, and struck him with the wand, and lo, a long-eared, frisking hair was skipping and jumping on the green. But it wasn't for long, who but his wife called the hounds, and set them on him. The hare fled, the dogs followed, round the field ran a high wall, so that run as he might he couldn't get out, and mightily diverted were beggar and lady, to see him twist and double. In vain did he take refuge with his wife, she kicked him back again to the hounds, and so at length the beggar stopped the hounds, and with a stroke of the wand, panting in breathless, the storyteller stood before them again. And how did you like the sport? asked the beggar. It might be sport to others, replied the storyteller, looking at his wife. For my part, I could well put up with the loss of it. Would it be asking too much? he went on to the beggar. To know who you are at all, or where you come from, or why you take a pleasure in plaguing a poor old man like me. Ow! replied the stranger. I'm an odd kind of good-for-little fellow. One day poor, another day rich. But if you wish to know more about me or my habits, come with me, and perhaps I may show you more, then you would make out if you went alone. I'm not my own master to go or stay, replied the storyteller with a sigh. The stranger put out one hand into his wallet, and drew out of it, before their eyes, a well-looking middle-aged man, to whom he spoke as follows. By all you heard and saw since I put you in my wallet, take charge of this lady and of the carriage and horses, and have them ready for me whenever I want them. Scarcely had he said these words when all vanished, and the storyteller found himself at the fox's ford, near the castle of Red Hugh O'Donnell. He could see all but none could see him. O'Donnell was in his hall, and heaviness of flesh and weariness of spirit put upon him. Go out, he said to his doorkeeper, and see who o' what may be come in. The doorkeeper went, and what he saw was a lank grey beggarman, half his sword-bed behind his haunch. His two shoes full of cold, road awayish water sowsing about him. The tips of his two ears out through his old hat, his two shoulders out through his scant-hattered cloak, and in his hand a green wand of holly. Save you, O'Donnell, to the lank grey beggarman, and you like ways, said O'Donnell, whence come you, and what is your craft? I come from the outmost stream of earth, from the glens where the white swans glide, a night in Islay, a night in man, a night on the cold hillside. It's a great traveller you are, said O'Donnell. Maybe you've learnt something on the rule. I am a juggler, said the lank grey beggarman, and for five pieces of silver you shall see a trick of mine. You shall have them, said O'Donnell, and the lank grey beggarman took three small straws and placed them in his hat. The middle one, said he, I'll blow away, the other two I'll leave. Thou canst not do it, said one and all. But the lank grey beggarman put a finger on either side, outside the straw, and with away he blew the middle one. This is a good trick, said O'Donnell, and he paid him his five pieces of silver. For half the money, said one of the chief's lads, I'll do the same trick. Take him at his word, O'Donnell. The lad put the three straws on his hand, and a finger on either outside straw, and he blew. And what happened? But that the fist was blown away with the straw. Thou art sore, and thou wilt be sore, said O'Donnell. Six more pieces, O'Donnell, and I'll do another trick for thee, said the lank grey beggarman. Six, shout thou have. Seize thou my two ears. One I'll move, but not the other. It is easy to see them, but they're big enough that I can't never move one ear and not the two together. The lank grey beggarman put his hand to his ear, and he gave it a pull. O'Donnell laughed, and paid him the six pieces. Call that a trick, said the fistless lad. Anyone can do that. And so saying, he put up his hand, pulled his ear, and what happened was that he pulled away ear and head. Thou saw thou art, and sore thou wilt be, said O'Donnell. Well, O'Donnell, said the lank grey beggarman, strange are the tricks I've shown thee, but I'll show thee a strange one yet for the same money. Thou hast my word for it, said O'Donnell. With that the lank grey beggarman took a bag from under his armpit, and from out the bag a ball of silk, and he unwound the ball, and he flung it swankwise up into the clear blue heavens, and it became a ladder. Then he took a hair, and placed it upon the thread, and up it ran. Again he took out a red-eared hound, and it swiftly ran up after the hair. Now, said the lank grey beggarman, has anyone in mind to run after the dog, and on the course? I will, said the land of O'Donnell's. Up with thee then, said the juggler, but I warn you, if you let my hair be killed, I'll cut off your head when you come down. The lad ran up the thread, and all three soon disappeared. After looking for a long time, the lank grey beggarman said, I'm afraid the hound is eating the hair, and that our friend has fallen asleep. Saying this, he began to wind the thread, down came the lad, fast asleep, and down came the red-eared hound, and in his mouth the last morsel of the hair. He struck the lad a stroke with the edge of his sword, and so cast his head off, as for the hound, if he used it no worse, he used it no better. It's little I'm pleased, and sore I'm ungood, said O'Donnell. I'd a-hound and a lad should be killed at my court. Five pieces of silver twice over for the each of them, said the juggler, and the head shall be on them as before. Thou shalt get that. Five pieces, and again five repaid him, and lo, the lad has his head, and the hound his. And though they lived to the uttermost end of time, the hound would never touch a hair again, and the lad took good care to keep his eyes open. Skessy had the Lankray beggarman done this when he banished from out of their sight, and no one present could say if he had flown through the air, or if the earth had swallowed him up. He moved his wave, tumbling, oh, a wave, as whirlwind following whirlwind, as a furious wintry blast, so swiftly, sprucily, cheerily, right proudly, and no stop-made, until he came to the court of Lentzter's King, he gave a cheery light sleep, oh, a top of turret, of caught in city, of Lentzter's King. Heavy was the flesh, and weary this spirit of Lentzter's King. Twas the hour he was wont to hear a story, but sent he might right and left, not a jot of tidings about the storyteller could he get. Go to the door, said he to his doorkeeper, and see if a soul is in sight who may tell me something about my storyteller. The doorkeeper went, and what he saw was a lank-grey beggarman, half his sword-bed behind his haunch, his two old shoes full of cold, rode-awayish water sowshing about him. The tips of his two ears out through his old hat, his two shoulders out through his scant-tattered cloak, and in his hand a three-stringed harp. What can thou do? said the doorkeeper. I can play? said the lank-grey beggarman. Never fear, added he to the storyteller, doubt shall see all, and not a man shall see thee. When the king heard a harp was outside, he bade him in. It is I that have the best harpers in the five fists of Ireland, said he, and he signed them to play. They did so, and if they played, the lank-grey beggarman listened. Heard, thou ever the like, said the king. Did you ever, o king? Hear a cat purring over a bowl of broth, or the buzzing of beetles in the twilight, or a shrill-tongued old woman scolding your head off? That I have often, said the king. More melodious to me, said the lank-grey beggarman, were the worst of these sounds than the sweetest harping of thy harpers. When the harpers heard this, they drew their swords and rushed at him. But instead of striking him, their blows fell on each other, and soon, not a man but was cracking his neighbour's skull and getting his own cracked in turn. When the king saw this, he thought it hard the harpers weren't content with murdering their music, but must needs murder each other. Hang the fellow who began it all, said he, and if I can't have a story, let me have peace. Up came the guards, seized the lank-grey beggarman, marched him to the gallows, and hanged him high and dry, back they marched the hall. But who should they see but the lank-grey beggarman, seated on a bent with his mouth to a flagon of ale? Never welcome you in, cried the captain of the guard. Didn't we hang you this minute? What brings you here? It is me myself, you mean. Who else? said the captain. May your hand turn into a pig's foot with you, when you think of tying the rope. Why should you speak of hanging me? Back they scurried to the gallows, and there hung the king's favourite brother. Back they hurried to the king, who had fallen fast asleep. Please, your majesty, said the captain, we hang that strolling vagabond, but here he is back again as well as ever. Hang him again, said the king, and if he went to sleep once more. They did as they were told. But what happened was that they found the king's chief harper hanging where the lank-grey beggarman should have been. The captain of the guard was sorely puzzled. Are you wishing to hang me a third time, the lank-grey beggarman? Go where you will, to the captain. And as fast as you please, if you'll only go far enough, it's trouble enough you've given us already. Now, be reasonable, to the beggarman, and since you've given up trying to hang a stranger because he finds fault with your music, I don't mind telling you that if you go back to the gallows, you'll find your friends sitting on the sword none the worse for what has happened. As he said these words, he vanished, and the storyteller found himself on the spot where they first met, and where his wife still was with the carriage and horses. Now, said the lank-grey beggarman, I'll torment you no longer. There's your carriage and your horses and your money and your wife. Do what you please with them. For my carriage and my houses and my hounds, said the storyteller, I thank you. But my wife and my money you may keep. Now, said the other, I want neither. And as for your wife, don't think evil of her for what she did, she couldn't help it. Not help it, not help kicking me into the mouth of my own hounds. Not help casting me off for the sake of a beggarly old. I'm not as beggarly you're as old as you think. I am Angus of the Brough. Many a good turn you've done me with the King of Lentster. This morning my magic told me the difficulty you were in, and I made up my mind to get you out of it. As for your wife there, the power that changed your body changed her mind. Forget and forgive as man and wife should do. And now you have a story for the King of Lentster when he calls for one. And with that he disappeared. It's true enough he now had a story fit for a King. From first to last he told all that had befallen him. So long and loud laughed the King that he couldn't go to sleep at all. And he told the storyteller never to trouble for fresh stories, but every night as long as he lived, he listened again and he laughed afresh at the tale of the Lank Grey beggarman. End of Chapter 16, Recording by Karen Yamada, a.k.a. Terry Jones. Chapter 17 of Celtic Fairy Tales. This is LibriVox Recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Shalee from Wallacham. Celtic Fairy Tales. Selected and edited by Joseph Jacobs. Chapter 17. The Seamaden. There was once a poor old fisherman, and one year he was not getting much fish. On a day of days while he was fishing, there rose a seamaden at the side of his boat, and she asked him, Are you getting much fish? The old man answered and said, Not I. What reward would you give me for sending plenty of fish to you? Ah, said the old man, I have not much to spare. Will you give me the first son you have? said she. I would give you that, were I to have a son, said he. Then go home, and remember me when your son is twenty years of age, and you yourself will get plenty of fish after this. Everything happened, as the seamaden said, and he himself got plenty of fish. But when the end of the twenty years was nearing, the old man was growing more and more sorrowful, and heavy-hearted, while he counted each day as it came. He had rest neither day nor night. The son asked his father one day, Is anyone troubling you? The old man said, As I wanted, but that's not to do with you and nor anyone else. The lad said, I must know what it is. His father told him at last how the matter was with him and the seamaden. Then not that put you in any trouble, said the son, I will not oppose you. You shall not, you shall not go, my son, though I never get fish any more. If you will not let me go with you, go to the smizzy, and let the smith make me a great strong sword, and I will go seek my fortune. His father went to the smizzy, and the smith made a dowty sword for him. His father came home with the sword. The lad grasped it, and gave it a shake or two, and it flew into a hundred splinters. He asked his father to go to the smizzy and get him another sword, in which there should be twice as much weight, and so his father did, and so likewise it happened to his next sword. It broke in two halves. Beck ran the old man to the smizzy, and the smith made a great sword, it's like he never made before. There's thy sword for thee, said the smith, and the fist must be good, but playeth this blade. The old man gave the sword to his son, he gave it a shake or two. This will do, said he. It's high time now to travel on my way. On the next morning he put a saddle on a black horse that his father had, and he took the world for his pillow. When he went on a bit, he fell in with a carcass of a sheep beside the road, and there were a great black dog, a falcon, and an otter, and they were quarrelling over the spoil, so they asked him to divide it for them. He came down of the horse, and he divided the carcass amongst the three. Three shares to the dog, two shares to the otter, and a share to the falcon. For this, said the dog, if swiftness of foot or sharpness of tooth will give thee aid, mind me, and I will be at thy side, said the otter. If the swimming of foot on the ground of a pool will lose thee, mind me, and I will be at thy side, said the falcon. If hardships comes on thee where swiftness of wing or crook of a claw will do good, mind me, and I will be at thy side. On this he went onward till he reached a king's house, and he took service to be heard, and his wages were to be according to the milk of the kettle. He went away with the kettle, and the grazing was but bear, and the evening when he took them home they had not much milk, the place was so bare, and his meat and drink was but spare that night. On the next day he went on further with them, and at last he came to a place exceedingly grassy, in a green glen of which he never saw the like. But about the time when he should drive the kettle homewards, who should he see coming, but a great giant was his sword in his hand. I ho hagrach, says the giant, those kettle are mine, there are on my land in a dead manard thou. I say not that, says the herd, there is no knowing, but that may be easier to say than to do. He drew the great clean sweeping sword, and he neared the giant. The herd drew back his sword, and the head was off the giant in a twinkling. He leapt on the black holes, and he went to look for the giant's house. In went the herd, and that's the place, where there was money in plenty and dresses of each kind in the wardrobe with gold and silver, and each thing finer than the other. At the mouth of night he took himself to the king's house, but he took not a thing from the giant's house. And when the kettle were milked, this night there was milk. He got good feeling this night, meat and drink without stint, and the king was hugely pleased that he had caught such a herd. He went on for a time in this way, but at last the glen grew bare of grass, and the grazing was not so good. So he thought he would go a little further forward in on the giant's land, and he sees a great park of grass. He returned for the kettle, and he put them into the park. There were but a short time grazing in the park, when a great wild giant came full of rage and madness. Ah, ye ho, hogger! said the giant. It is a drink of thy blot that will quench my thirst this night. There is no knowing, said the herd, but that's easier to say than to do. And at each other went the men. There was shaking of blades. At length and at last it seemed as if the giant would get the victory over to herd. Then he called on the dog, and with one spring the black dog caught the giant by the neck, and swiftly the herd struck off his head. He went home very tired this night, but it's a wonder if the king's kettle had not milk. The whole family was delighted that they had got such a herd. Next day he betakes himself to the castle. When he reached the door, a little fluttering carlin met him standing in the door. Oh, hail a good luck to thee, precious son. Design myself and please to see thee. Great is the honour for this kingdom, for thine like to be come into it. Thy coming in is fain for this little body. Go in first, honour to the genders. Go on and take breath. In before me, thou crone, I like not flattery out of doors. Go in and let hear thy speech. In went the crone, and when her back was to him he drew his sword and whips her head off, but as the sword flew out of his hand, and swift the crone gripped her head with bowed hands and put it on her neck as it was before. The dog sprung on the crone, and she struck the generous dog with a club of magic, and there he lay. But the herd struggled for a hold of the club of magic, and with one blow on the top of the head she was on earth in the twinkling of an eye. He went forward, up a little, and there was spoil, gold and silver, and each thing more precious than another in the current castle. He went back to the king's house, and then there was rejoicing. He followed herding him this way for a time, but one night after he came home, instead of getting all hail and good luck from the dairymaid, all were at crying and row. He asked what cause of row there was that night. The dairymaid said, there is a great beast with three hats and loch, and it must get some one every year, and the lot had come this year on the king's daughter, and at midday to-morrow she has to meet the ladelid beast at the upper end of the loch, but there is a great suitor yonder who is going to rescue her. What suitor is of that? said the herd. Oh, he is a great general of arms, said the dairymaid, and when he kills the beast, he will marry the king's daughter. For the king has said that he who could save his daughter should get her to marry, but on the morrow, on the time grown near, the king's daughter and this hero of arms went to give a meeting to the beast, and they reached the black rock at the upper end of the loch. There were but a short time there when the beast stirred in the midst of the loch, but when the general saws this terror of a beast with three heads, he took fright, and he slunk away, and he hid himself, and the king's daughter was under fear and under trembling with no one at all to save her. Suddenly she sees a daughty hunting youth riding on a black horse and coming where she was. He was marvellously arrayed and full armed, and his black dog moved after him. There is gloom on your face, girl, said the youth. What do you hear? Oh, that's no matter, said the king's daughter. It's not long I'll be here at all events. I say not that, said he. A champion flatters lightly as you, and not long since, said she. He is a champion who stands to war, said the youth, and to meet the beast he went with his sword and his dog. But there was a spluttering and a splashing between himself and the beast. The dog kept doing all he might, and the king's daughter was pulsed by fear of the noise of the beast. One of them would now be under and now above, but at last he cut one of the hats off it. It gave one roar, and the sun of earth echo of the rock's call to its creed, and it drove the loch and spindled it from end to end, and in a twinkling it went out of sight. Could luck and victory follow you, lad? said the king's daughter. I am safe for one night, but the beast will come again and again until the other two had come off it. He caught the beast's head, and he drew not through it, and he told her to bring it with her there tomorrow. She gave him a gold ring, and went home with the head on her shoulder, and the herd betook himself to the cows. But she had not gone far when this great general saw her, and he said to her, I will kill you if you do not say that Ozai took the head of the beast. Oh! says she, desire I will say it, who else took the head of the beast but you? They reached the king's house, and the head was on the general's shoulder. But here was rejoicing that she should come home alive and whole, and this great captain with the beast's head full of blood in his hand. On the morrow they went away, and there was no question at all with that this hero would save the king's daughter. They reached the same place, and they were not long there, and the fearful ladly beast stirred in the midst of the log, and the hero slung away as he did on yesterday. But it was not long after this, when the man of the black horse came, with another dress on. No matter, she knew that it was the very same lad. It is I pleased to see you, says she. I am in the hopes you will handle your great sword today, as you did yesterday. Come up and take breath. But they were not long there when they saw the beast steaming in the midst of the log. At once he went to meet the beast, but there was Kluberstein and Klapperstich, spluttering, splashing, wavy, and roaring on the beast. They kept it at thus for a long time, and about a month of night he cut another head of the beast. He put it on the knot and gave it to her. She gave him one of her earrings, and he leapt on the black horse, and he betook himself to the herding. The king's daughter went home with the heads. The general met her, and took the heads from her, and he said to her that she must tell, that it was he who took the head of the beast at this time also. Who else took the head of the beast but you? said she. They reached the king's house with the heads. Then there was joy and gladness. About the same time on the morrow the two went away. The officer hid himself as he usually did. The king's daughter betook herself to the bank of the log. The hero of the black horse came, and if roaring and raving were on the beast, on the days that were passed, this day it was horrible. But no matter, he took the third head of the beast, and drew it through the knot and gave it to her. She gave him her other earring, and then she went home with the heads. When they reached the king's house, all were full of smiles, and the general was to marry the king's daughter the next day. The wedding was going on, and everyone about the castle longing till the breeze should come. But when the breeze came, she would marry only the one who could take the heads of the knot without cutting it. Who should take the heads of the knot, but the man that put the heads on, said the king. The general tried them, but he could not loosen them, and at last there was no one else about the house that would try to take the heads of the knot. They said that the herd had not tried them yet. Word went for the herd, and he was not long throwing them hither and thither. But stop a bit, my lad, said the king's daughter. The man that took the heads of the beast, he has my ring and my two earrings. The herd put his hand in his pocket, and he threw them on the board. Thou art my man, said the king's daughter. The king was not so pleased when he saw that it was a herd, but was to marry his daughter. But he ordered that he should be put in a buttered dress. But his daughter spoke, and she said that he had a dress as fine as any that ever was in his castle, and thus it happened. The herd put on the giant's golden dress, and they married that same day. They were now married, and everything went on well. But one day, and it was the namesake of the day when his father had promised him to the sea maiden, they were saundering by his aside of the loch, and lo and behold, she came and took him away to the loch without leave or asking. The king's daughter was now mournful, tearful, blind, sorrowful for her married man. She was always with her eye on the loch. An old sooth say met her, and she told how it had befallen her married maid. Then he told her the thing to do to save her maid, and that she did. She took her harp to the seashore, and said and played. And the sea maiden came out to listen, for sea maidens are fonder of music than all other creatures. But when the wife saw the sea maiden, she stopped. The sea maiden said, play on, but the princess said, no, not till I see my man again. So the sea maiden put up his head out of the loch. Then the princess played again, and stopped till the sea maiden put him up to the waist. Then the princess played and stopped again. And this time the sea maiden put him all out of the loch, and he called on the falcon and became one and flew on shore. But the sea maiden took the princess, his wife. Sorrowful was each one that was in the town on this night. Her man was mournful, tearful, wandering down and up above the banks of the loch by day and night. The old sooth say met him. The sooth say it told him, that there was no way of killing the sea maiden but the one way, and this is it. In the Ireland, that is in the midst of the loch, is a white-footed hind at the slenderest legs and the swish to step. And though she be caught, there will spring a hoodie out of her. And though the hoodie should be caught, there will spring a drought out of her. That there is an egg in the mouth of the drought. And the soul of the sea maiden is in the egg, and if the egg breaks, she is dead. Now, there was no way of getting to the island, for the sea maiden would sink each boat and raft that would go on the loch. He thought he would try to leap the straight with the black horse, and even so he did. The black horse leapt the straight. He saw the hind, and he let the black dog after her. But when he was on one side of the island, the hind would be on the other side. Oh, would the black dog of the carcass of flesh were here? No sooner spoke he the word, than the grateful dog was at his side, and after the hind he went. And there were not long him bringing her to earth, but he no sooner caught her, than a hoodie spring out of her. Would that a felgen gray of sharpest eye and swift as wing were here? No sooner said he this, than the felgen was after the hoodie, and she was not long putting her to earth. And as the hoodie fell on the bank of the loch, out of her jumps the drought. Oh, that thou would buy me now, O otter! No sooner said, than the otter was at his side, and out on the loch she leapt, and rings a drought from the midst of the loch. But no sooner was the otter on shore with the drought, than the egg came from his mouth. He sprang, and he put his foot on it. Just then the seam-maiden appeared, and she said, break off the egg, and you shall get all you ask. Deliver me to my wife. In the wink of an eye she was by his side. When he got hold of her hand, and both his hands, he let his foot down on the egg, and the seam-maiden died. CHAPTER XVIII A LEGEND OF NOCKMANY. What Irish man, woman, or child has not heard of our renowned Hyde-Bernie and Hercules, the great and glorious Finn the Cool. Not one from Kate Clear to the Giant's Causeway, nor from that back again to Kate Clear. And, by the way, speaking of the Giant's Causeway, brings me at once to the beginning of my story. Well, it so happened that Finn and his men were all working at the Causeway, in order to make a bridge across to Scotland, when Finn, who was very fond of his wife Oona, took it into his head that he would go home and see how the poor woman got on in his absence. So, accordingly, he pulled up a territory, and after lopping off the roots and branches, made a walking stick of it, and sat out on his way to Oona. Oona, or rather Finn, lived at this time on the very tip-top of Nockmany Hill, which faces a cousin of its own called Cullamore, that rises up, half hill, half mountain, on the opposite side. There was at this time another Giant called Cullamore. Some say he was Irish, and some say he was Scottish, but whether Scottish or Irish, sorrowed doubt of it but he was a Targer. No other Giant of the day could stand before him, and such was his strength that, when well vexed, he could give a stamp that shook the country about him. The fame and name of him went far and near, and nothing in the shape of a man, it was said, had any chance with him in a fight. By one blow of his fists, he flattened a thunderbolt and kept it in his pocket, in the shape of a pancake, to show to all his enemies when they were about to fight him. Undoubtedly, he had given every Giant in Ireland a considerable beating, barring Finn cool himself, and he swore that he would never rest night or day, winter or summer, till he would serve Finn with the same sauce if he could catch him. However, the short and long of it was, with reverence, be it spoken, that Finn heard Cullamore was coming to the causeway, to have a trial of strength with him, and he was seized with a very warm and sudden fit of affection for his wife, poor woman, leading a very lonely, uncomfortable life of it in his absence. He accordingly pulled up the fir tree, as I said before, and, having snetted it into a walking stick, set out on his travels to see his darling Una on the top of Nockminy, by the way. In truth, the people wondered very much why it was that Finn selected such a windy spot for his dwelling-house, and they even went so far as to tell him as much. What can you made, Mr. McCool, said they, by pitching your tent upon the top of Nockminy, where you are never without a breeze day or night, winter or summer, and where you're often forced to take your nightcap without either going to bed or turning up your little finger? I, and where, besides this? There's the sorrow's own wants of water. Why, said Finn, ever since I was the height of a round tower, I was known to be fond of having a good prospect of my own, and where, that Dickens' neighbors, could I find a better spot for a good prospect than the top of Nockminy? As for water, I am sinking a pump, and, please, goodness, as soon as the causeways made, I intend to finish it. Now, this was more of Finn's philosophy, for the real state of the case was that he pitched upon the top of Nockminy in order that he might be able to seek to hull and coming towards the house. All we have to say is that if he wanted a spot from which to keep a sharp lookout, and between ourselves, he did want it grievously, barring sleeve-crube or sleeve-donard, or his own cousin, Cullamore, he could not find a neater or more convenient situation for it in the sweet and sagacious province of Ulster. God save all here, said Finn, good-humoredly, on putting his honest face into his own door. Moshefinna, Dick, and your welcome home to your own, Una, you darling bully, here followed a smack that is said to have made the waters of the lake at the bottom of the hill curl as it were, with kindness and sympathy. Finn spent two or three happy days with Una, and felt himself very comfortable considering the dread he had of Cullan. This, however, grew upon him so much that his wife could not but perceive something lay on his mind which he kept all together to himself, let a woman alone in the meantime for ferreting or weeding a secret out of her good man when she wishes. Finn was a proof of this. It's this Cullan, said he, that's troubling me. When a fellow gets angry and against a stamp he'll shake you a whole townland and it's well known that he can stop a thunderbolt for he always carries one about him in the shape of a pancake to show to anyone that might misdoubt it. As he spoke he clapped his thumb in his mouth which he always did when he wanted to prophesy or to know anything that happened in his absence and the wife asked him what he did it for. He's coming, said Finn. I see him below Duncanon. Thank goodness dear and who is it a vict, glory be to God. That faced Cullan, replied Finn, and how to manage I don't know. If I run away I am disgraced and I know that sooner or later I must meet him for my thumb tells me so. When will he be here? said she. Tomorrow, about two o'clock, replied Finn with a groan. Well my bully don't be cast down, said Una, depend on me and maybe I'll bring you better out of this scrape than ever you could bring yourself by your ruler thumb. She then made a high smoke on the top of the hill after which she put her finger in her mouth and gave three whistles and by that Cullan knew he was invited to Cullamore for this was the way that the Irish long ago gave a sign to all strangers and travellers to let them know they were welcome to come and take share of whatever was going. In the meantime Finn was very melancholy and did not know what to do or how to act at all. Cullan was an ugly customer to meet with and the idea of that cake afore said flattened the very heart within him. What chance could he have strong and brave though he was with a man who could when put in a passion walk the country into earthquakes and knock thunderbolts into pancakes. Finn knew not on what hand to turn him right or left backward or forward where to go when he could form no guess whatsoever. Oona said he can you do nothing for me where is all your invention it might have been skibbered like a rabbit before your eyes and to have my name disgraced forever in the sight of all my tribe and me the best man among them how am I to fight this man mountain this huge cross between an earthquake and a thunderbolt with a pancake in his pocket that was once the easy thin supply doona throw thigh machined of you keep your toe in your pump will you talking of pancakes maybe we'll give him as good as any he brings with him thunderbolt or otherwise if I don't treat him to a smart feeding as he's gotten at this many a day never trust Oona again leave him to me and do just as I bid you this relieved Finn very much for after all he had great confidence in his wife knowing as he did that she had got him out of many a quandary before Oona then drew the nine woollen threads of different colors which she always did to find out the best way of succeeding in anything of importance she went about she then planted them into three plats with three colors in each putting one on her right arm one round her heart and the third round her right ankle for then she knew that nothing could fail her that she undertook having everything now prepared she sent round to the neighbors and borrowed one and twenty iron griddles which she took and kneaded into the hearts of one and twenty takes of bread and these she baked on the fire in the usual way setting them aside in the cupboard according as they were done she then put down a large pot of new milk which she made into curds and whey having done all this she sat down quite contented waiting for his arrival on the next day about two o'clock that being the hour at which he was expected for Finn knew as much by the sucking of his thumb now this was a curious property that Finn's thumb had in this very thing moreover he was very much resembled by his great foe Caffullen for it was well known that the huge strength he possessed all lay in the middle finger of his right hand and that if he happened by any miss chance to lose it he was no more for all his bulk than a common man at length the next day Caffullen was seen coming across the valley and Oona knew that it was time to commence operations she immediately brought the cradle and made Finn to lie down in it and cover himself up with the clothes you must pass for your own child said she so just lie there snug and say nothing but be guided by me about two o'clock as he had been expected Caffullen came in God save all here said he is this where the great Finn McCool lives indeed if he is honest man replied Oona God save you kindly won't you be sitting thank you ma'am says he's sitting down you're mrs. McCool I suppose I am said she and I have no reason I hope to be ashamed of my husband no said the other he has the name of being the strongest and bravest man in Ireland but for all that there's a man not far from you that's very desirous of taking a shake with him is he at home why then no she replied and if ever a man left his house in a fury he did it appears that someone told him of a big bassoon of a giant called Caffullen being down at the causeway to look for him and so he set out there to try if he could catch him truth I hope for the poor giant's sake he won't meet with him for if he does Finn will make paste of him at once well said the other I am Caffullen and I have been seeking him these 12 months but he always kept clear of me and I will never rest night or day till I lay my hands on him at this Oona set up a loud laugh of great contempt by the way and looked at him as if he was only a mere handful of a man did you ever see Finn said she changing her manner all at once how could I said he he always took care to keep his distance I thought so she replied I judge as much and if you take my advice you poor looking creature you'll pray night and day that you may never see him for I tell you it will be a black day for you when you do but in the meantime you perceive that the wind on the door and Finn himself is from home maybe you'd be civil enough to turn the house for it's always what Finn does when he's here this was a starkler even to Caffullen but he got up however and after pulling the middle finger of his right hand until it cracked three times he went outside and getting his arms about the house turned it as she had wished when Finn saw this he felt a sweat of fear oozing out through every pore of his skin but Oona depending upon her woman's wit felt not a wit daunted. Ara then said she as you are so civil maybe you do another obliging turn for us as Finn's not here to do it himself you see after this long stretch of dry weather we've had we feel very badly off for want of water now Finn says there's a fine spring well somewhere under the rocks behind the hill here below and it was his intention to pull him asunder but having heard of you he left a place in such a fury that he never thought of it now if you try to find a trophy feel it a kindness she then brought Caffullen down to see the place which was then all one solid rock and after looking at it for some time he cracked his right middle finger nine times and stooping down tore a cleft about four hundred feet deep and a quarter of a mile in length which has since been christened by the name of Lumpard's Glen you'll now come in said she and eat a bit of such humble fare as we can give you Finn even though he and you are enemies would score not to treat you kindly in his own house and indeed if I didn't do it even in his absence he would not be pleased with me he accordingly brought him in and placing half a dozen of the cakes we spoke of before him together with a canner through a butter aside of boiled bacon and a stack of cabbage she desired him to help himself for this be it known was long before the invention of potatoes Cahullen put one of the cakes in his mouth to take a huge whack out of it when he made a thundering noise something between a growl and a yell blood and fury he shouted how is this here are two of my teeth out what kind of bread is this you gave me what's the matter said Una Cooley matter shelter the other again why here are the two best teeth in my head gone why said she that's Finn's bread the only bread he ever eats when at home but indeed I forgot to tell you that nobody can eat it but himself and that child in the cradle there I thought however that as you were reported to be rather a stout little fellow of your size you might be able to manage it and I did not wish to affront a man that thinks himself able to fight Finn here's another cake maybe it's not so hard as that Cahullen at the moment was not only hungry but ravenous so accordingly made a fresh scent at the second cake and immediately another yell was heard twice as loud as the first thunder and jibbit you ward take your bread out of this or I will not have a tooth in my head there's another pair of them gone well honest man reply duna if you're not able to eat the bread say so quietly and don't be wakening the child in the cradle there there now he's awake upon me Finn now gave a scurl that startled the giant is coming from such a youngster as he was supposed to be mother said he I'm hungry get me something to eat Luna went over and put him into his hand a cake that had no griddle in it Finn whose appetite in the meantime had been sharpened by seeing eating going forward soon swallowed it Cahullen was thunderstruck and secretly thanked his stars that he had the good fortune to miss meeting Finn for as he said to himself I'd have no chance with a man who could eat such bread as that which even his son that's button the cradle can munch before my eyes I'd like to take a glimpse at the lad in the cradle he said to una for I can tell you that the infant who can manage that nutriment is no joke to look at or to feed of a scarce summer with all the veins of my heart for play duna get up a kushla and show the decent little man something that won't be unworthy of your father Finn the cool Finn who was dressed for the occasion as much like a boy as possible got up and bringing Cahullen out are you strong said he thunder and owls exclaimed the other what a voice and so smaller chap are you strong that Finn again are you able to squeeze water out of that white stone he asked putting one into Cahullen's hand the latter squeezed and squeezed the stone but in vain you're a poor creature that Finn you a giant give me the stone here and when I'll show you what Finn's little son can do you may then judge of what my daddy himself is Finn then took the stone and exchanging it for the curds he squeezed the latter until the way as clear as water oozed out in a little shower from his hand I'll now go in said he to my cradle try score and to lose my time with anyone that's not able to eat my daddy's bread or squeeze water out of a stone the dad you had better be off out of this before he comes back for if he catches you it's in summary he'd have you in two minutes Cahullen seeing what he had seen was of the same opinion himself his knees not together with the terror of Finn's return and he accordingly hastened to bid una farewell and to assure her that from that day out he never wished to hear of much less to see her husband I admit fairly that I'm not a match for him said he long as I am tell him I will avoid him as I would the plague and that I will make myself scarce in this part of the country while I live then into the meantime I'd gone into the cradle where he lay very quietly his heart at his mouth with delight that Cahullen was about to take his departure without discovering the tricks that had been played off on him it's well for you said una that he doesn't happen to be here for it's nothing but hawks meat he'd make of you I know that said Cahullen give her a thing else he'd make of me but before I go will you let me feel what kind of teeth Finn's lad has got that can eat brittle bread like that with all pleasure and life that she only is there far back in his head you must put your finger a good way in Cahullen was surprised to find such a powerful set of grinders and one so young but he was still much more so on finding when he took his hand from Finn's mouth that he had left the very finger upon which his whole strength depended behind him he gave one love groan and fell down at once with terror and weakness this was all Finn wanted who now knew that his most powerful and bitterest enemy was at his mercy he started out of the cradle and in a few minutes the great Cahullen that was for such a length of time the terror of him and all his followers lay a corpse before him busted Finn through the wit and invention of una his wife succeed in overcoming his enemy by cunning which he never could have done by force end of chapter 18 recording by Pete Lutz corpus christie texas my website is 63 audio dot f 6.3 studio dot com chapter 19 of Celtic fairy tales this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org reading by Lars Rolander Celtic fairy tales selected and edited by Joseph Jacobs chapter 19 fair brown and trending King Yugh Kurucha lived in Tirkonal and he had three daughters whose names were fair brown and trembling fair and brown had new dresses and went to church every Sunday trembling was kept at home to do the cooking and work they could not let her go out of the house at all for she was more beautiful than the other two and they were intrigued she might marry before themselves they carried on in this way for seven years at the end of seven years the son of the king of Emania fell in love with the eldest sister one Sunday morning after the other two had gone to church the old henwife came into the kitchen to trembling and said it's a church you ought to be this day church you ought to be this day instead of working here at home 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 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 I'll have said trembling a dress as white as snow and green shoes for my feet then the henwife put on the cloak of darkness 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 that moment she had the rub 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 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 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 the 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 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 when the two sisters came home the henwife asked have you any news today from the church we have great news today we saw a wonderful grand lady at the church door the 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 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 next sunday the two sisters went to church again and left the youngest at home to cook dinner after they had gone the henwife came in and asked will you go to church today i would go said trembling if i could get the going what robe will you wear ask the henwife the finest black satin that can be found and red shoes for my feet what color do you want the mare to be i want her to be so black and so glossy that i can see myself in her body the henwife put on the cloak of darkness and asked for the robes and the mare that moment she had them when trembling was stressed 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 bridal 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 that sunday the people were more astonished 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 the henwife had the dinner ready trembling took off her satin robe and had on her old clothes before her sisters got home what news have you today ask the henwife of the sisters when they came from the church 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 mouse open gazing at her and no man was looking at us the two sisters gave neither rest nor peace till they got dresses as nearly like the strange ladies robes as they could find of course they were not so good for the like of those robes could not be found in airing 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 after they had gone and were out of sight the henwife came to the kitchen and said well my dear are you for church today i would go if i had a new dress to wear i'll get you any dress you ask for what dress would you like ask the henwife a dress red as a rose from the waist down and white as snow from the waist up a cape of green 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 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 sisters and that moment the most beautiful golden hair was flowing down over the girl's shoulders then the henwife asked what kind of 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 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 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 the son of the king of imania forgot all about the eldest sister and remained outside the church so as to catch the strange lady before she could hurry away 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 as soon as the people were rising at the end of mass the lady slipped out through the gate was in the golden saddle in an instant and sweeping away ahead of the wind but if she was the prince of imania was at her side and ceasing her by the foot he ran with the mare for 30 purchase 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 seeing her so vexed and so changed in the face the old woman asked what's the trouble that's on you now oh i've lost one of the shoes of my feet said trembling don't mind that don't be vexed said the henwife maybe it's the best thing that ever happened to you 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 we have indeed said they for we saw the grandest site today 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 after trembling had disappeared from the church the son of the king of imania said to the other king's sons i will have that lady for my own they all said you didn't win her just by taking the shoe of her foot you will 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 well said the son of the king of imania when i find the lady that shoe will fit i'll fight for her never fear before i leave her to any of you then all the king's 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 imania 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 or high or low degree the prince of imania always kept her shoe and when the young women saw it they had great hopes for it was of proper size neither a 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 two shorter foot put something in the tip of her stocking but no use they only spoiled their feet and were curing them for months afterwards the two sisters fair and brown heard that the princess 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 oh the breaking of the dog's foot on you why say you so when you were at home every sunday they were that way waiting and scolding the younger sister till the princess 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 imania gave the shoe to the sisters but though they tried and tried it would fit neither of them is there any other young woman in the house asked the prince there is said trembling speaking up in the closet i'm here oh we have her for nothing but to put out the ashes said the sisters 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 the prince of imania looked at her and said you are the woman the shoe fits and you are the woman i took the shoe from then trembling spoke up and said do you stay here till i return 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 a 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 a church 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 a church 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 a church every man was satisfied and knew that she was the woman then all the princes and great men spoke up and said to the son of the king of imania you'll have to fight now for her before we let her go with you i'm here before you ready for combat answered the prince 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 and 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 nierfoy fought eight hours and stopped the fourth day the son of the king of gris fought six hours and stopped on the fifth day no more strange princes wanted to fight and all the sons of kings and erin said they would not fight with the 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 imania the marriage day was fixed and the imitations 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 to walk and when they came to the seaside the eldest pushed the youngest sister in a great whale came and swallowed her the eldest sister came home alone and the husband asked where is your sister she has gone home to her father in balishamun now that i'm well i don't need her well said the husband looking at her i'm in dread it's my wife that has gone oh no said she it's my sister fair that's gone 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 in the morning when he rose up the sword was as cold as when he put it there 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 pushing trembling to 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 tomorrow'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 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 breezed fin of the whale is a reddish brown spot my husband might hit him in that spot for it is the only place in which he can be killed when the cowboy got home the eldest sister gave him a draft of oblivion and he did not tell 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 i did not said he i forgot how did you forget asked she the woman of the house gave me a drink that made me forget well don't forget telling him this night and if she gives you a drink don't take it from her 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 that 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 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 father came and told him any death he choose 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 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 would get her but him the cowboy and the prince's daughter lived on till they were married the other said to her husband you could not have saved me from the whale but for the little cowboy on that account I don't crush him my daughter the son of the king of emania and trembling had 14 children and they lived happily till the two died of old age end of chapter 19 fair brown and trembling read by los rolander chapter 20 of caltic fairy tales this is a libra vox recording all libra vox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libra vox dot org recording by caron yamada aka terry jone caltic fairy tales selected and edited by joseph jacob's chapter 20 jack and his master a poor woman had three sons the eldest and second eldest were cunning clever fellows but they called the youngest jack the fall because they thought he was no better than a simpleton the eldest got tired of staying at home and said he'd go look for service he stayed away a whole year and then came back one day dragging one foot after the other and a poor wizened face on him and his crosses two sticks when he was rested and got something to eat he told them how he got service with the gray chiral of the townland of miss chance and that the agreement was whoever would first say he was sorry for his bargain should get an inch wide of the skin of his back from shoulder to hips taken off if it was the master he should pay double wages if it was the servant he should get no wages at all but the thief says he gave me so little to eat and kept me so hard at work that flesh and blood couldn't stand it and when he asked me once when I was in a passion if I was sorry for my bargain I was mad enough to say I was and here I am disabled for life vexed enough with the poor mother and brothers and the second eldest said on the spot he'd go and take service with the gray chiral and punish him by all the annoyance he'd give him till he'd make him say he was sorry for his agreement oh won't I be glad to see the skin coming off the old villain's back said he all they could say had no effect he started off for the townland of miss chance and in a 12th month he was back just as miserable and helpless as his brother all the poor mother could say didn't prevent jack the fall from starting to see if he was able to regulate the gray chiral he agreed with him for a year for 20 pounds and the terms were the same now jack said the gray chiral if you refuse to do anything you are able to do you must lose a month's wages I'm satisfied said jack and if you stop me from doing a thing after telling me to do it you are to give me an additional month's wages I am satisfied says the master or if you blame me for obeying your orders you must give me the same I am satisfied said the master again the first day that jack served he was fed very poorly and was worked to the saddle skirts next day he came in just before the dinner was sent up to the parlor they were taking the goose off the spit but well becomes jack he whips a knife of the dresser and cuts off one side of the breast one leg and thigh and one wig and fell too in came the master and began to abuse him for his assurance oh you know master you're to feed me and wherever the goose goes won't have to be filled again till supper are you sorry for our agreement the master was going to cry out he was but he thought himself in time oh no not at all said he that's well said jack next day jack was to go to clamp turf on the bog they weren't sorry to have him away from the kitchen at dinner time he didn't find his breakfast very heavy on his stomach so he said to the mistress I think ma'am it will be better for me to get my dinner now and not lose time coming home from the bog that's true jack said she so she brought out a good cake and a print of butter and a bottle of milk thinking you take them away to the bog but jack kept his seat and never drew rain till bread butter and milk went down the red lane now mistress said he I'll be earlier at my work tomorrow if I sleep comfortably on the sheltery side of a pile of dry peat on dry grass and not becoming here and going back so you may as well give me my supper and be done with the day's trouble she gave him that thinking he'd take it to the bog but he fell too on the spot and did not leave a scrap to tell tales on him and the mistress was a little astonished he called to speak to the master in the haggard and said he what are servants asked to do in this country after they eaten their supper nothing at all but go to bed oh very well sir he went up to the stable loft stripped and lay down and someone saw that him told the master he came up jack you anointed scoundrel what do you mean to go to sleep to go to sleep master the mistress god bless her is after me giving me my breakfast dinner and supper and yourself told me that bed was the next thing do you blame me sir yes you rascal I do hand me out one pound 13 and four pints if you please sir one devil and 13 imps you tinker what for oh I see you forgot your bargain are you sorry for it oh yeah uh no I mean I'll give you the money after your nap next morning early jack asked how he'd been employed that day you are to be holding the plow in that fellow outside the paddock the master went over about nine o'clock to see what kind of a plowman was jack and what did he see but the little boy driving the bastes and the stocking culture of the plow skimming along the sod and jack pulling ding dong again the horses what are you doing you contrary thieves said the master and ain't I striving to hold this devil of a plow as you told me but that uncrown of a boy keeps whipping on the bastes and spite of all I say will you speak to him no but I'll speak to you didn't you know you bastoon that when I said holding the plow I meant reddening the ground faith and if you did I wish you had said so do you blame me for what I have done the master caught himself in time but he was so stomached he said nothing go and redden the ground now you neighbors other plowmen do and are you sorry for our agreement oh not at all not at all jack plowed away like a good workman all the rest of the day in a day or two the master made him go and mine the cows in a field that had half of it under young corn be sure particularly said he to keep brownie from the wheat while she's out of mischief there's no fear of the rest about noon he went to see how jack was doing his duty and what did he find but jack asleep with his face to the sod brownie grazing near a thorn tree and one end of a long rope around her horns and the other end round the tree and the rest of the beast all trampling and eating the green wheat down came the switch on jack jack you vagabone do you see what the cows are at and do you blame me master to be sure you lazy sluggered I do up hand me out one pound thirteen and four pence master you said if I only kept brownie out of mischief the rest would do no harm there she is it's armless as a lamb are you sorry for hiring me master to be that is not at all I'll give you your money when you go to dinner now understand me don't let a cow go out of the field nor into the wheat the rest of the day never fear master and neither did he but the churl would rather that a great deal he had not hired him the next day three heifers were missing and the master made jack to go in search of them where will I look for them said jack oh every place likely and unlikely for them all to be in the churl was getting very exact in his words when he was coming into the barn at dinner time what work did he find jack at but pulling armfuls of the thatch off the roof and peeping into the holes he was making what are you doing there you rascal sure I'm looking for the heifers poor things what will bring them there I don't think anything could bring them in it but I looked first into the likely places that is the cowhouses and the pastures and the fields next to them but now I'm looking in the unlikeliest places I can think of maybe it's not pleasing to you it is and to be sure it isn't pleasing to me you aggravating goose cap please sir hand me one pound thirteen and four pence before you sit down to your dinner I'm afraid it's sorry that's on you for hiring me a maver div oh no I'm not sorry will you begin if you please and put in a thatch again just as if you were doing it for your mother's cabin oh faith I will sir with a heart and a half and by the time the farmer came out from his dinner jack had the roof better than it was before for he made the boy give him new straw says the master when he came out go jack and look for the heifers and bring them home and where will I look for him go and search for them as if they were your own the heifers were all in the paddock before sunset next morning says the master jack the path across the bog to the pasture is very bad the sheep does be sinking in it every step go and make the sheep's feet a good path about an hour after he came to the edge of the bog and what did he find jack at but sharpening a carving knife and the sheep standing or grazing round is this the way you are mending the path jack said he everything must have a beginning master said jack and a thing well begun is half done I am sharpening the knife and I'll have the feet off every sheep in the flock while you'd be blessing yourself feet off my sheep you anointed rogue and what would you be taking their feet off for and sure to bend the path as you told me says you jack make a path with the foot of the sheep oh you fool I meant make good the path for the sheep's feet it's a pity you didn't say so master hand me out one pound thirteen and four pence if you don't like me to finish my job dival do you good with your one pound thirteen and four pence it's better pray than curse master maybe you're sorry for your bargain and to be sure I am not yet anyway the next night the master was going to a wedding and says he to jack before he set out I'll leave at midnight and I wish you to come and be with me home for fear I might be overtaken with the drink if you're there before you may throw a sheep's eye at me and I'll be sure to see that they'll give you something for yourself about eleven o'clock while the master was in great spirits he felt something clammy hit him on the cheek it fell beside his tumbler and when he looked at it what was it but the eye of a sheep well he couldn't imagine who threw it at him or why it was thrown at him after a little he got a blow on the other cheek but still it was by another sheep's eye well he was very vexed but he thought better to say nothing in two minutes more when he was opening his mouth takes up another sheeps I was slapped into it he splattered it out and cried man of the house isn't it a great shame for you to have anyone in this room that would do such a nasty thing master says Jack don't blame the honest man sure it's only myself that was throwing them sheep's eyes at you to remind you I was here and that I wanted to drink the bride and bridegroom's you yourself bade me I know that you had a great rascal and where did you get the eyes and where would I get him but in the heads of your own sheep would you have me meddle with the base of any neighbor who might put me in the stone jug for it sorrow on me that I ever had the bad luck to meet with you you're all witnesses says jack that my master says he is very sorry for having met with me my time is up master hand me over double wages and come into the next room and lay yourself out like a man that has some decency in him till I take a strip of skin an inch broad from your shoulder to your hip everyone shouted out against that but says jack you didn't injure him when he took the same strips on the backs of my two brothers and sent them home in that state and penniless to their poor mother when the company had the right to the business they were only too eager to see the job done the master balled and roared but there was no help at hand he was stripped to his hips and laid on the floor in the next room and jack had the carving knife in his hand ready to begin now you cruel old villain said he giving the knife a couple of scrapes along the floor I'll make you an offer give me along with my double wages 200 guineas to support my poor brothers and I'll do without the strap no said he I'd let you skin me from head to foot here goes then said jack with a grin but the first little scar he gave churl roared out stop your hand I'll give the money now neighbors said jack you mustn't think worse of me than I deserve I wouldn't have the heart to take an eye out of a rat itself I got half a dozen of them from the butcher and only you three of them so all came again into the other room and jack was made sit down and everyone drank his health and he drank everybody's health at one offer and six stuck fellows saw himself and the master home and waited in the parlor while he went up and brought down the 200 guineas and the double wages for jack himself when he got home he brought the summer along with him to the poor mother and the disabled brothers and he was no more jack the fall in the people's mouths but skin churl jack end of chapter 20 recording by Karen Yamada aka terror jone chapter 21 Celtic fairy tales this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Pete Lutz Celtic fairy tales by Joseph Jacobs chapter 21 Beth Gellert Prince Llewellyn had a favorite Greyhound named Gellert that had been given to him by his father-in-law King John he was as gentle as a lamb at home but a lion in the chase one day Llewellyn went to the chase and blew his horn in front of his castle all his other dogs came to the call but Gellert never answered it so he blew a louder blast on his horn and called Gellert by name but still the Greyhound did not come at last Prince Llewellyn could wait no longer and went off to the hunt without Gellert he had little sport that day because Gellert was not there the swiftest and boldest of his hounds he turned back in a rage to his castle and as he came to the gate who should he see but Gellert come bounding out to meet him but when the hound came near him the prince was startled to see that his lips and fangs were dripping with blood Llewellyn started back in the Greyhound crouched down at his feet as if surprised or afraid at the way his master greeted him now Prince Llewellyn had a little son a year old with whom Gellert used to play and a terrible thought crossed the prince's mind that made him rush towards the child's nursery and the nearer he came the more blood and disorder he found about the rooms he rushed into it and found the child's cradle overturned and dogged with blood Prince Llewellyn grew more and more terrified and sought for his little son everywhere he could find him nowhere but only signs of some terrible conflict in which much blood had been shed at last he felt sure the dog had destroyed his child and shouting to Gellert monster thou hast devoured my child he drew out his sword and plunged it into the Greyhound side who fell with a deep yell and still gazing in his master's eyes as Gellert raised his dying yell a little child's cry answered it from beneath the cradle and there Llewellyn found his child unharmed and just awakened from sleep but just beside him lay the body of a great gaunt wolf all torn to pieces and covered with blood too late Llewellyn learned what had happened while he was away Gellert had stayed behind to guard the child and had fought and slain the wolf that had tried to destroy Llewellyn's air in vain was all Llewellyn's grief he could not bring his faithful dog to life again so he buried him outside the castle walls within sight of the great mountain of Snowden where every passerby might see his grave and raised over it a great cairn of stones and to this day the place is called Beth Gellert or the grave of Gellert and men say I repent me as much as the man that slew his Greyhound are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit Librebox.org Celtic fairy tales selected and edited by Joseph Jacobs Chapter 22 The Tale of Ivan There were formerly a man and a woman living in the parish of Lawnlevin in the place which is called Hurda and work became scarce so the man said to his wife I will go search for work and you may live here so he took fair leave and traveled far toward the east and at last came to the house of a farmer and asked for work what work can you do said the farmer I can do all kinds of work said Ivan then they agreed upon three pounds for the year's wages when the end of the year came his master showed him the three pounds see Ivan said he hears your wage but if you will give it back to me I'll give you a piece of advice instead give me my wage said Ivan no I'll not said the master I'll explain my advice tell it me then said Ivan then said the master never leave the old road for the sake of a new one after that they agreed for another year at the old wages and at the end of it Ivan took instead a piece of advice and this was it never lodge where an old man is married to a young woman the same thing happened at the end of the third year when the piece of advice was honesty is the best policy but Ivan would not stay longer but wanted to go back to his wife don't go today said his master my wife bakes tomorrow and she shall make the a cake to take home to thy good woman and when Ivan was going to leave here said his master here is a cake for thee to take home to thy wife and when you are most joyous together then break the cake and not sooner so he took fair leave of them and travel towards home and at last he came to one her and there he met three merchants from tre ren of his own parish coming home from exeter fair oh oh Ivan said they come with us glad we are to see you where have you been so long I've been in service said Ivan and now I'm going home to my wife oh come with us you'll be right welcome but when they took the new road Ivan kept the old one and robbers fell upon them before they had gone far from Ivan as they were going by the fields of the houses in the meadow they began to cry out thieves and Ivan shouted out thieves too and when the robbers heard Ivan shout they ran away and the merchants went by the new road and Ivan by the old one till they met again at market Jew oh Ivan said the merchants we are beholding to you but for you we would have been lost men come lodge with us at our cost and welcome when they came to the place where they used to lodge Ivan said I must see the host the host they cried what do you want with the host here is the hostess and she's young and pretty if you want to see the host you'll find him in the kitchen so he went into the kitchen to see the host he found him a weak old man turning the spit oh oh quote Ivan I'll not lodge here but we'll go next door not yet said the merchants sup with us and welcome now it happened that the hostess had plotted with a certain monk in market Jew to murder the old man in his bed that night while the rest were asleep and they agreed to lay it on the lodgers so while Ivan was in bed next door there was a hole in the pine end of the house and he saw a light through it so he got up and looked and heard the monk speaking I had better cover this hole said he or people in the next house may see our deeds so he stood with his back against it while the hostess killed the old man but meanwhile Ivan out with his knife and putting it through the hole cut a round piece off the monk's robe the very next morning the hostess raised the cry that her husband was murdered and as there was neither man nor child in the house but the merchants she declared that they ought to be hanged for it so they were taken and carried to prison till at last Ivan came to them alas alas Ivan cried they bad luck sticks to us our host was killed last night and we shall be hanged for it ah tell the justices said Ivan to summon the real murderers who knows they replied who committed the crime who committed the crime said Ivan if I cannot prove who committed the crime hang me in your stead so he told all he knew and brought out the piece of cloth from the monk's robe and with that the merchants were set at liberty and the hostess and the monk were seized and hanged then they all came together out of market Jew and they said to him come as far as koi karni wilfa the wood of the heap of stones of watching in the parish of burman then their two roads separated and though the merchants wished Ivan to go with them he would not go with them but went straight home to his wife and when his wife saw him she said home in the nick of time here's a purse of gold that I found it has no name but sure it belongs to the great lord yonder I was just thinking what to do when you came then Ivan thought of the third council and he said let us go and give it to the great lord so they went up to the castle but the great lord was not in it so they left the purse with the servant that minded the gate and then they went home again and lived in quiet for a time but one day the great lord stopped at their house for a drink of water and Ivan's wife said to him I hope your lordship found your lordship's purse quite safe with all his money in it what purse is that you are talking about said the lord sure it's your lordship's purse that I left at the castle said Ivan come with me and we will see into the matter said the lord so Ivan and his wife went up to the castle and there they pointed out the man to whom they had given the purse and he had to give it up and was sent away from the castle and the lord was so pleased with Ivan that he made him his servant in the stead of the thief honesty's the best policy quote Ivan as he skipped about in his new quarters how joyful I am then he thought of his old master's cake that he was to eat when he was most joyful and when he broke it low and behold inside it was his wages for the three years he had been with him end of chapter 22 chapter 23 of Celtic fairy tales this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Celtic fairy tales selected and edited by Joseph Jacobs chapter 23 Andrew Coffey my grandfather Andrew Coffey was known to the whole barony as a quiet decent man and if the whole barony knew him he knew the whole barony every inch hill and dale bog and pasture field and covert fancy his surprise one evening when he found himself in a part of the domain he couldn't recognize a bit he and his good horse were always stumbling up against some tree or stumbling down into some bog hole that by rights did not to be there on the top of all this the rain came pelting down wherever there was a clearing and the cold march wind tore through the trees glad he was when he saw a light in the distance and drawing near found a cabin though for the life of him he couldn't think how it came there however in he walked after tying up his horse and right welcome was the brushwood fire blazing on the hearth and there stood a chair right and tight that seemed to say come sit down in me there wasn't a soul else in the room well he did sit and got a little warm and cheered after his drenching but all the while he was wondering and wondering and your coffee and your coffee good heavens who was calling him and not a soul in sight look around as he might indoors and out he could find no creature with two legs or four for his horse was gone and your coffee and your coffee tell me a story it was louder this time and it was nearer and then what a thing to ask for it was bad enough not to be let sit by the fire and dry oneself without being bothered for a story and your coffee and your coffee tell me a story or it'll be the worst for you my poor grandfather was so dumbfounded that he could only stand and stare and your coffee and your coffee I told you it'd be the worst for you and with that out there bounced from a cupboard that and your coffee had never noticed before a man and the man was in a towering rage but it wasn't that and he carried his fine a black thorn as you'd wish to crack a man's head with but it wasn't that either but when my grandfather clapped eyes on him he knew him for Patrick Rooney and all the world knew he'd gone overboard fishing one night long years before Andrew coffee would neither stop nor stay but he took to his heels and was out of the house as hard as he could he ran and he ran taking little thought of what was before till at last he ran up against a big tree and then he sat down to rest he hadn't sat for a moment when he heard voices it's heavy he is the vagabond steady now we'll rest when we get under the big tree yonder now that happened to be the tree under which Andrew coffee was sitting at least he thought so for seeing a branch handy he swung himself up by it and was soon snugly hidden away better see than to be seen thought he the rain had stopped and the wind fallen the night was blacker than ever but Andrew coffee could see four men and they were carrying between them a long box under the tree they came set the box down opened it and who should they bring out but Patrick Rooney never a word did he say and he looked as pale as old snow well one gathered brushwood and another took out tinder and flint and soon they had a big fire roaring and my grandfather could see Patrick plainly enough if he had kept still before he kept stiller now soon they had four poles up in a pole across right over the fire for all the world like a spit and onto the pole they slung Patrick Rooney he'll do well enough said one but who's to mind him whilst we're away and who'll turn the fire who will see that he doesn't burn with that Patrick opened his lips and her coffee said he Andrew coffee Andrew coffee Andrew coffee Andrew coffee I'm much obliged to you gentlemen said Andrew coffee but indeed I know nothing about the business you'd better come down Andrew coffee said Patrick it was the second time he spoke and Andrew coffee decided he would come down the four men went off and he was left alone with Patrick then he sat and he kept the fire even and he kept the spit turning and all the while Patrick looked at him poor Andrew coffee couldn't make it all out at all at all and he stared at Patrick and at the fire and he thought of the little house in the wood till he felt quite dazed ah but it's burning me yarr says Patrick very short and sharp I'm sure I beg your pardon said my grandfather but might I ask you a question if you want a crooked answer said Patrick turn away or it'll be the worst for you but my grandfather couldn't get it out of his head hadn't everybody far and near said Patrick had fallen overboard there was enough to think about and my grandfather did think Andrew coffee Andrew coffee it's burning me yarr sorry enough my grandfather was and Vowdy wouldn't do so again you'd better not said Patrick and he gave him a cock of his eye and a grin of his teeth that just sent a shiver down Andrew coffee's back well it was odd that here he should be in a thick wood he had never said eyes upon turning Patrick Rooney upon a spit you can't wonder at my grandfather thinking and thinking and not minding the fire Andrew coffee Andrew coffee it's the death of you I'll be and with that what did my grandfather see but Patrick unslinging himself from the spit and his eyes glared and his teeth glistened it was neither stop nor stay my grandfather made but out he ran into the night of the wood it seemed to him there wasn't a stone but was for his stumbling not a branch but beat his face not a bramble but tore his skin and whenever it was clear the rain pelted down in the cold march wind howled along glad he was to see a light and a minute after he was kneeling days drenched and bedraggled by the hearth side the brushwood flamed and the brushwood crackled and soon my grandfather began to feel a little warm and dry and easy in his mind Andrew coffee Andrew coffee it's hard for a man to jump when he has been through all my grandfather had but jump he did and when he looked around where should he find himself but in the very cabin he had first met Patrick in Andrew coffee Andrew coffee tell me a story is it a story you want said my grandfather as bold as may be for he was just tired of being frightened well if you can tell me the rights of this one I'll be thankful and then he told the tale of what had befallen him from the first to the last that night the tale was long and maybe Andrew coffee was weary it's asleep he must have fallen for when he awoken he lay on the hillside under the open heavens and his horse grazed at his side end of chapter 23