Blair Collection > Popular tales of the West Highlands > Volume 2

in the day thirst would be on him ; and he would
drink the vessel each time, and unless the daughter
had the vessel full she ^vas not to get off. She was afraid,
when the king asked for a drink, that unless she had
the vessel full lier head would be taken oif. It was
so that she thought the vessel should be set before tlie
king at all hazai'ds. She brought down the vessel, and
she set it before him. He drank a draught ; he took
out the fourth part, and he left tliree quarters in it. " I
would rather you should take it out altogether than
leave it. My father has made an oath that unless I
have the vessel full, I have but to die."
" Well, then," said the king, " it is a spell of my
spells to leave the vessel as full as it was before."
He set the vessel on the board, he struck his palm
on it, and he struck oft' as much as was above the milk,
and the vessel was full ; and before he went away, the
girl was his own.
" Now, thou art going, oh king of Erin, and I am
shamed ; what wilt thou leave with me ? "
" I would give thee a thousand of each hue, a thou-
sand of each kind, a thousand of each creature."
" What should I do with that, for I will not find
salt in Erin to salt them ? "
" I would give thee glens and high moors to feed
them from year to year."
" What should I do with that ? for if Fearghus
should kill you, he will take it from me, unless I have
it with writing, and a drop of blood to bind it."
" I am in haste this night, but go to-morrow to
the camp to Croc Maol Nam Muc," said the king ; and
he left his blessing with her.
Her father came.
" Far from thee — far from thee be it, my daughter !
I think that a stranger has been to see thee here this day."