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

298 WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
on it : he threw the next one, and he gave a step on it :
he threw thus one after one, until he came to the
sixteenth, and the sixteenth took him on shore in Eirinn.
When he was on shore he shook his ears, and he
thought that it was in no sorry place he would stay.
" He moved as sea heaps from sea heaps,
And as playballs from playballs —
As a furious winter wind —
So swiftly, sprucely, cheerily,
Eight proudly,
Through glens and high-tops,
And no stop made he
Until he came
To city and court of O'Domhnuill.
He gave a cheery, light leap
O'er top and turret
Of court and city
Of O'Domhnuill."*
O'Domhnuill took much anger and rage that such an
unseemly ill strippling should come into his court,
while he had a doorkeeper for his town.
"I will not believe," said the Champion, but "that
thovi art taking anger and rage, O'Domhnuill."
"Well, then, I am," .said O'Domhnuill, "if I did but
know at whom I should let it out."
"My good man," said the Champion, "coming in was
no easier for me than going out again would be."
"Thou goest not out," said O'Domhnuill, "until thou
tellest me from whence thou camest."
" I came from hurry-skurry.
From the end of endless spring.
* The only authority for writing this as poetry is the rhythm
and alliteration of the original.