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Updated: May 31, 2025
So Ian Direach entered, and tended so well and carefully all the birds and beasts, that the giant was better satisfied than ever he had been, and at length he thought that he might even be trusted to feed the falcon.
Thus all things prospered with Ian Direach till he died. The Ugly Duckling It was summer in the land of Denmark, and though for most of the year the country looks flat and ugly, it was beautiful now.
On he journeyed, over hills, and through rivers till he reached a wide plain, and never a glimpse did he catch of the falcon. Darker and darker it grew, and the small birds were seeking their nests, and at length Ian Direach could see no more, and he lay down under some bushes and sleep came to him.
"Direach sin, it was a fine day I started to drive the back-calvers and stots, and the sun red wi' a fine-weather haze, and the roads hard and dry, and it was maybe two hours I was on the road and the beasts settled, when there came a woman on the road and a shawl about her head, and I kent her for a devil's black bairn that could be telling her ain folk when the rain would come in the harvest, and when the butter would come on at the kirning.
The wind was behind them, and very soon they saw the rocks of Dhiurradh in front. Then spoke Gille Mairtean the fox: 'Let the bay colt and the king's daughter hide in these rocks, and I will change myself into the colt, and go with you to the house of the Seven Big Women. Joy filed the hearts of the Big Women when they beheld the bay colt led up to their door by Ian Direach.
'I will make myself into a ship, said Gille Mairtean the fox, 'and will carry you and the princess, and the bay colt and the White Sword of Light, back to the land. And when the shore was reached, Gille Mairtean the fox took back his own shape, and spoke to Ian Direach in this wise: 'Let the princess and the White Sword of Light, and the bay colt, remain among the rocks, and I will change myself into the likeness of the White Sword of Light, and you shall bear me to the giant, and, instead, he will give you the blue falcon. And Ian Direach did as the fox bade him, and set out for the giant's castle.
'The deer have come down from the hill, and it is time for me to give them chase. Then 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. But 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.
And the king was well pleased, and at the end of a month he sent for Ian and said to him: 'You have given me faithful service, and now I will entrust you with the most precious thing that my kingdom holds. And when he had spoken, he led Ian Direach to the stable where stood the bay colt.
Ian Direach trembled as he saw him; but the giant only said: 'If you wish for my falcon you must first bring me the White Sword of Light that is in the house of the Big Women of Dhiurradh. 'And where do they live? asked Ian. But the giant answered: 'Ah, that is for you to discover. And Ian dared say no more, and hastened down to the waste.
And in his dream a soft nose touched him, and a warm body curled up beside him, and a low voice whispered to him: 'Fortune is against you, Ian Direach; I have but the cheek and the hoof of a sheep to give you, and with these you must be content. With that Ian Direach awoke, and beheld Gille Mairtean the fox. Between them they kindled a fire, and ate their supper.
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