Matheson Collection > Folk tales and fairy lore in Gaelic and English

FOLK TALES AND FAIRY LORE. 63
Brown Wren of the Stream of Flowing. He got from
the Wren his supper of crumbs of bread and cheese.
He put him to bed in a heap of moss, which he found
as comfortable as the feather bed of the Falcon.
On the morrow when he was taking farewell with
him, he said: " If hardship or distress come upon thee
in thy time, in which I can do thee good, think of me,
and I will be at thy side."
On the evening of that day he reached the Giant'.s
house. When his wife saw him, she said: "Thou
must hide thyself, for the Giant will kill thee as soon
as he will come." She then hid him as well as she
might.
When the Giant came from the Hunting-hill and
went in, he said: "E! Ho! Hoagich ! I feel the
smell of a traitor here to-night." " It is only a bird
which the cat brought in, and which I am roasting,"
said the woman.
When the Giant went to bed, the woman began to
say to him: "Thou canst not be killed, as thou art so
strong." " I can not be killed by attacking me face to
face," said the Giant. " But hast thou seen the stock
outside opposite the door? There is a sheep in the
centre of the stock, and there is a bird in the belly of
the sheep, and there is an egg in the belly of the bird;
and as long as the egg remains Avhole my life shall be
safe."
The Giant rose in the morning and set off to the
Hunting-hill. No sooner did he go out of sight over
the shoulder of the ben than Cathal was out with the
axe. When he split the stock, a sheep sprang away
with great speed. He looked after her, and saw that
it was but folly for him to go and chase her. Then
he said to himself: " How useful the Dog of the Great
Mull would be here!" and almost before the expres-
sion was out of his mouth, the Dog was in the breast