Blair Collection > Popular tales of the West Highlands > Volume 3

THE RIDER OF GRIAX.UG. . 5
time she used to get the better, and two times she used
not."
They seized each other, and they had hard hugs,
and the giant put Iain on his knee.
"I see," said Iain, "that thou art the stronger."
" It is known that I am," said the giant.
They Avent "before each other again. They were
twisting and hauling each otlier. Iain struck a foot on
the giant in the ankle, and he put him on the thews of
his back under him on the ground. He wished that
the raven were at him.
The stumpy black raven came, and he fell upon the
giant about the face and about the ears with his claws
and with his wings until he blinded him, and he
deafened liim.
" Hast thou got a nail of arms that will take the
head off the monster ? "
" I have not."
" Put thy hand under my right wing, and thou
wilt find a small sharp laiife which I have for gather-
ing briar-bucLs, and take the head off him."
He put his hand under the raven's right wing and
lie found the knife, and he took the head off the giant.
"E'ow Iain thou shalt go in where is the big
daughter of the knight of Grianaig, and she will be
asking thee to return and not to go farther ; but do
not thou give heed, but go on, and thou "wilt reach the
middle daughter ; and thou shalt give me a quid of
tobacco."
" I wiU. give that to thee indeed ; well hast thou
earned it. Thou shalt have haK of all I have."
" I will not. There's many a long day to Bealtain."
" Tlie fortune will not let me be here till Bealtain."
" Thou hast knowledge of what has passed, but thou
hast no knowledge of what is before thee ; set warm