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

454 WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
" Aha ! " said the king, " I am at rest. It is thou
that didst the vahant deeds ; and it was not my set of
sons ! "
" It is he," said the Kttle treasure to the king,
" that could do the valiant deeds ; and it was not thy
set of shambling sons, that would be stretched as sea-
weed seekers when he was gone to heroism."
" I will not eat meat, and I will not drink draught,"
said the king, " until I see my two sons being burnt
to-morrow. I will send some to seek faggots of grey
oak for burning them."
On the morning of the morrow, who was earliest
on his knee at the king's bed, but the Warrior of the
Eed Shield.
" Eise from that, warrior ; what single thing
mightest thou be asking that thou shouldst not get,"
said the king.
"The tiling I am asking is, that thy two sons
should be let go ; I cannot be in any one place where
I may see them spoiled," said he. " It were better
to do bird and fool clipping to them, and to let them
go."
The king was pleased to do that. Bird and fool
clipping was done to them. They Avere put out of
their place, and dogs and big town vagabonds after
them.
The little treasure and the Warrior of the Eed
Shield married, and agreed. A great wedding was
made, that lasted a day and a year ; and the last day
of it was as good as the first day.