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

42 2 WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
loaf, and comb me against the hair, and with the
hair."
He did that.
"Take care of thyself, for I am for thee now," said
she.
She took a spring, and she was on the top of the
wall.
" The matter is well before thee, Een," said the
ambler, " the Tree Lion is from home."
He Avent home. My Chief, and all hail ! were before
him ; meat and drink were set before him ; he rested
that night, and he was with the wife of the Tree Lion
three hours before the day.
So early as his eye saw the day, earlier than that
he arose, and he reached the ambler, the Gruagach
Ban, and they went a^N'ay.
Said the Fair Chief, " The Tree Lion is from
home ; anything that passed she will not hide ; he is
coming after us, and he Avill not remember his book of
witchcraft ; and since he does not remember the book
of witchcraft, it will go with me against him ; but if he
should remember the book, the people of the world
could not withstand him. He has every Draochd magic,
and he will spring as a bull when he comes, and I will
spring as a bull before him, and the first blow I give
him, I will lay his head on his side, and I will make
him roar. Then he will spring as an Aiseal (ass),
and I will spring as an ass before him, and the first
thrust I give him I will take a mouthful out of him,
between flesh and hide as it may be. Then he will
spring as a hawk in the heavens ; I will spring as a
hawk in the wood, and the first stroke I give him, I
will take his heart and his liver out. I will come
down afterwards, and thou shalt seize that napkin
yonder, and thou shalt put me in the napkin, and thou