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

348 WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
should give the ajDple, that was the one who was to get
the king's daughter.
That was done, and when the chikl went into the
chamber in which the men were, the Shifty Lad had
a shaving and a drone (sliseag us dranndan), and the
chikl went and gave him the apple. Then the shaving
and the drone were taken from the Shifty Lad,
and he was seated in another place, and the apple
was given to the child again ; and he was taken out
of the chamber, and sent in again to see to whom
he would give the apple ; and since the Shifty Lad
had the shaving and the drone before, the child went
where he was again, and he gave him the apple. Then
the Shifty Lad got the king's daughter to marry.
And shortly after that the king's daughter and the
Shifty Lad were taking a walk to Baile Cliabh ; and
when they were going over the bridge of Baile Cliabh,
the Shifty Lad asked the king's daughter what was
the name of that place ; and the king's daughter told
him that it was the bridge of Baile Cliabh, in Eirinn ;
and the Shifty Lad said —
" Well, then, many is the time that my mother said
to me, that my end would be to be hanged at the bridge
of Baile Cliabh, in Eirinn ; and she made me that
prophecy many a time when I might play her a trick."
And the king's daughter said, " Well then, if thoii
thyself shouldst choose to hang over the little side
(wall) of the bridge, I will hold thee aloft a little space
with my pocket napkin."
And they were at talk and fun about it ; but at
last it seemed to the Shifty Lad that he would do it for
sport, and the king's daughter took out her pocket
napkin, and the Shifty Lad went over the bridge, and
he hung by the pocket napkin of the king's daughter