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

lOLK TALES AND FAIRY F.ORE. 1 23
after his arrival, he said to the farmer's son: " Do you
remember the white -faced wether's death?" The
farmer's son answered that he did. " Well," said the
tailor, " it was I who killed him, and it is you who
may be thankful to me for doing so." "Thankful to
you for killing the white-faced wether! How is that? "
*' Which would you prefer being killed, yourself or
the white-faced wether?" "The white-faced wether,
undoubtedly. But tell me, I pray you, what you
mean." The tailor did that in a few words.
He said he was under the influence of the fairies of
the Carlin Fairy-Knoll, and that they took him with
them on long journeys through the air in the night-
time. They could not hurt any human being except
by means of another; and for that reason they used
to take him with them, and make him throw the fairy
arrows at the person to whom they bore ill-will. " They
had a grudge," said he, " at you, and when you heard
us pass Droman with a rushing sound, they told me
to take a fairy arrow and cast it at you. I was com-
pelled to do what they told me; but instead of aiming
at you, 1 aimed at the white-faced wether. Fortunately
for me they saw not who fell ; for before the arrow
reached the wether, we were a great distance away
from Droman on our way to a great meeting which
the fairies held at Knock in Morven. Perhaps you do
not believe my story, but I will give you a sure proof
that I am telling the truth. Look in the sheep-pen
and you will find the arrow there still."
The farmer's son looked, and, as the tailor said,
found the arrow lying beneath the litter on the floor