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

452 WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
He turned her prow outwards ; and if slie was swift
coming, she was swifter returning. He let away the
three pigeons, as he left the strange country ; and he
was sorry that he had let them away, so beautiful was
the music that they had.*
There was a great river between him and the king's
house. When he reached the river, he saw a hoary
man coming with all his might, and shouting, " Oh,
gentleman, stay yonder until I take you over on my
back, in case you should wet yourself"
" Poor man, it seems as if thou wert a porter on
the river," said he.
" It is (so)," said the hoary old man.
" And what set thee there ?" said he.
" I will tell you that," said the hoary old man ; " a
big warrior struck a fist on the King of Eirinn, and he
drove out three of his teeth, and his two sons Avent to
take out vengeance ; there went with them a foolish
little young boy that was son to me ; and Avhen they
went to manhood, he went to faintness. It was but
sorry vengeance for them to set me as a porter on the
river for it."
" Poor man," said he, " that is no reproach ; be-
fore I leave the town thou wilt be well."
He seized him, and he lifted him with him ; and
he set him sitting in the chair against the king's
shoulder.
" Thou art but a saucy man that came to the town ;
thou hast set that old carl sitting at my father's shoul-
der ; and thou shalt not get it with thee," said the
Knight of the Cairn, as he rose and seized him.
" By my hand, and by my two hands' redemption, it
were as well for thee to seize Cnoc Leothaid as to seize
* In anotlier version pigeons were his faster brothers trans-
I'urmed.