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

FOLK TALES AND FAIRY LORE. 59
he laid hold of her, he went away home, thoroughly
pleased with her.
But, alas ! (my utter woe !) he did ni>t long enjoy
his happiness. When he reached home, they told
him that a giant stole his wife while he was away.
He vowed that mire would not go out of his shoe,
or water out of his hose, till he should find his wife,
or till he should lose his life in the attempt.
In the dawn of the morning he set off, and he was
travelling till there was blackening on his soles, and
holing on his shoes, the little nestling, folding, yellow-
tipped birds were taking to rest at the foot of the
bushes, and in the tops of the trees; the little, nimble,
pretty squirrels were choosing, as best they could,
crevices for each other; but though they were, Cathal
O'Cruachan was not. He saw a little house with a
light in it, a long way from him, but though it was a
long way from him, he was not a long time in reach-
ing it.
What house had he here but that of the Dog of the
Great Mull? The kind Dog said: "Cathal O'Cru-
achan, poor man, thy pretty wife went past here last
night with the Big Giant, she being on his shoulder."
Cathal got well treated by the kind dog, if the
venison of red deer and roes, the flesh of sheep and
wethers, abundance oi goat-skin under him, and sheep-
skin over him, would suffice. He slept as comfort-
ably as he ever did. When he got up in the morning
he was well treated by the Dog, and when he was
taking farewell with him he said to him: "If hard-
ship or necessity shall ever come on thee, in which
swiftness of foot will be of use to thee, think of me,
and I will be at thy side."