Opening, part 7 · page 21 2101The deer have come down from the hill, and it is time for me to give them chase.'102Then he went away; and when he was no longer in sight, Ian Direach led the bay colt out of the stable, and sprang on her back.103But as they rode through the gate, which stood between the palace and the outer world, the colt swished her tail against the post, which shrieked loudly.104In a moment the king came running up, and he seized the colt's bridle.105'If you want my bay colt, you must first bring me the daughter of the king of the Franks.'106With slow steps went Ian Direach down to the shore where Gille Mairtean the fox awaited him.107'Plainly I see that you have not done as I bid you, nor will you ever do it,' spoke Gille Mairtean the fox; 'but I will help you yet again. for a third time I will change myself into a ship, and we will sail to France.'108And to France they sailed, and, as he was the ship, the Gille Mairtean sailed where he would, and ran himself into the cleft of a rock, high on to the land.109Then, he commanded Ian Direach to go up to the king's palace, saying that he had been wrecked, that his ship was made fast in a rock, and that none had been saved but himself only.110Ian Direach listened to the words of the fox, and he told a tale so pitiful, that the king and queen, and the princess their daughter, all came out to hear it.111And when they had heard, nought would please them except to go down to the shore and visit the ship, which by now was floating, for the tide was up.112Torn and battered was she, as if she had passed through many dangers, yet music of a wondrous sweetness poured forth from within.1 2← previousOpening, part 6next →Opening, part 8↑ back to The Orange Fairy BookThis page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3027/7/page/2/