Opening, part 5 · page 21 2101But see that they touch her not, and give her food yourself, and yourself lead her into the stable, and shut the door.102And be sure that for every turn of the lock given by the sixteen stable lads you give one.103And now you shall break me off a piece of tobacco.'104The next morning Ian arose, and led the horse from the stable, without the door hurting him, and he rode across the sea to the island of the Big Women, where the sixteen stable lads met him, and each one offered to take his horse, and to feed her, and to put her into the stable.105But Ian only answered:106'I myself will put her in and will see to her.'107And thus he did.108And while he was rubbing her sides the horse said to him:109'Every kind of drink will they offer you, but see you take none, save whey and water only.'110And so it fell out; and when the sixteen stable-boys saw that he would drink nothing, they drank it all themselves, and one by one lay stretched around the board.111Then Ian felt pleased in his heart that he had withstood their fair words, and he forgot the counsel that the horse had likewise given him saying:112'Beware lest you fall asleep, and let slip the chance of getting home again'; for while the lads were sleeping sweet music reached his ears, and he slept also.113When this came to pass the steed broke through the stable door, and kicked him and woke him roughly.114'You did not heed my counsel,' said she; 'and who knows if it is not too late to win over the sea?115But first take that sword which hangs on the wall, and cut off the heads of the sixteen grooms.'116Filled with shame at being once more proved heedless, Ian arose and did as the horse bade him.117Then he ran to the well and poured some of the water into a leather bottle, and jumping on the horse's back rode over the sea to the island where the raven was waiting for him.118'Lead the horse into the stable,' said the raven, 'and lie down yourself to sleep, for to-morrow you must make the heroes to live again, and must slay the hag.119And have a care not to be so foolish to-morrow as you were to-day.'120'Stay with me for company,' begged Ian; but the raven shook his head, and flew away.121In the morning Ian awoke, and hastened to the cave where the old hag was sitting, and he struck her dead as she was, before she could cast spells on him.122Next he sprinkled the water over the heroes, who came to life again, and together they all journeyed to the other side of the island, and there the raven met them.123'At last you have followed the counsel that was given you,' said the raven; 'and now, having learned wisdom, you may go home again to Grianaig.124There you will find that the knight's two eldest daughters are to be wedded this day to your two brothers, and the youngest to the chief of the men at the rock.125But her gold cap you shall give to me and, if you want it, you have only to think of me and I will bring it to you.126And one more warning I give you.127If anyone asks you whence you came, answer that you have come from behind you; and if anyone asks you whither you are going, say that you are going before you.'128So Ian mounted the horse and set her face to the sea and her back to the shore, and she was off, away and away till she reached the church of Grianaig, and there, in a field of grass, beside a well of water, he leaped down from his saddle.1 2← previousOpening, part 4next →Opening, part 6↑ back to The Orange Fairy BookThis page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3027/5/page/2/