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

FOLK TALES AND FAIRY LORE. 25
Smith, but on being asked refused to open his box
first. Then the King's Smith went to the water side
and as soon as he opened his box a salmon leapt out
into the water, and away he swam. Then the Swarthy
Smith opened his own, and the otter sprang out after
the salmon, and in a short time seized the salmon
and returned with it in his mouth and left it at his
master's feet. " I call you to witness," said the
Swarthy Smith, " that you have lost your tet." *' I
have undoubtedly," replied the King's Smith, " and if
you come with me to the Inn I'll pay you every penny
of it." " No, I will not, for I have resolved that I
will not lay a bet again," said the Swarthy Smith.
" All right, ' said the King's Smith, and he paid the
other smith on the spot.
At the end of a few days who entered the smithy
but the gentleman. He waited a while, expecting that
the Swarthy Smith would pay unasked what he had
earned, but though he should wait to the crack of
doom the Swarthy Smith would not allude to anything
of the kind. At last he said to him: " I have come
for my reward; you had better give it me and let me
go." But reward or thanks the Swarthy Smith would
not give. When he saw this he went away, but before
going he left something in the smithy.
A few days after this another gentleman came on
horseback to the smithy, and his horse very lame for
want of shoes. After greeting the smith he said: " I
wish you would shoe my horse, for he is so much in
need that he cannot go a step." " Is it I ! " said the
Swarthy Smith. " I never made an article of smith-
work except socks for ploughs." The gentleman re-
plied: "Many a thing a man could make if he had