Matheson Collection > Popular tales of the west Highlands > Volume 1

MAOL A CHLIOBAIN. 271
she thought on a way ; and she got a long broad bench that was
within, and she set the bench at the side of the chest where the
giant was laid ; she went out where the burn was, and she took
two cold stones from the burn, and she went in where the giant
was, and she would put one of the stones in under the clothes,
and touch the giant's skin at the end of each little while with the
stone ; and the giant would lay himself back from her, till bit by
bit the giant went back off the chest on to the bench ; and then
Maol a Mhoibean opened the chest, and took with her the cabhran
of gold, and the cabhran of silver." The rest of the adventure is
nearly the same as in the other versions ; and the eldest sister
married the king's eldest son.
The next was the Claidheamh Geal Soluis, -white glave of
light.
She got in and sat on a rafter on a bag of salt ; and as the
giant's wife made the porridge, she threw in salt. Then the
giant and his son sat and supped, and as they ate they talked of
how they w^ould catch Maol, and what they would do to her when
they had her ; and after supper they went to bed. Then the
giant got very thirsty, and he called to his son to get him a
drink ; and in the time that the giant's son was seeking a cuman
(cup), Maol a Mhoibean took with her the fill of her sguird
(skirt) of salt, and she stood at the outside of the door ; and the
giant's son said to him " that there was no water within ; " and
the giant said "That the spring was not far off, and that he
should bring in water from the well ;" and when the giant's son
opened the door, Maol a Mhoibean began to throw salt in his
face ; and he said to the giant, " That the night was dark, and
that it was sowing and winnowing hailstones (gun robh an
OIDHCHE DORCHA AGUS CUR 'S CABHADH CLACH-A-MEALLAIN ANN);
and the giant said, "Take with thee my white glave of light,
and thou wilt see a great distance before thee, and a long way
behind thee."
When the young giant came out, it was a fine night ; and he
went to the well with the bright sword, and laid it down beside
him ; while he stooped to take up the water, Maol followed him,
and picked up the sword, and sguids i an ceann, she whisked
the head off the giant's son. Then came the flight and pursuit,
and escape, and scolding match, and the second son of the king
married the second sister.
The next adventure was the theft of Boc cluigeanach, the