Page:Myths and Folk-Lore of Ireland (Curtin).djvu/151

 "Poor man!" said she, when she laid eyes on him, "it 's a great distress you are in, to be so disfigured with wounds and sores. What is the trouble that 's on you?"

"I had a son," said the old man, "and the Gruagach na g-cleasan came on a day and took him from me."

"Oh, poor man!" said she. "I have a son with that same Gruagach these twelve years, and I have never been able to get him back or get sight of him, and I 'm in dread you 'll not be able to get your son either. But to-morrow, in the morning, I 'll tell you all I know, and show you the road you must go to find the house of the Gruagach na g-cleasan."

Next morning she showed the old fisherman the road. He was to come to the place by evening.

When he came and entered the house, the Gruagach shook hands with him, and said: "You are welcome, old fisherman. It was I that put this journey on you, and made you come here looking for your son."

"It was no one else but you," said the fisherman.

"Well," said the Gruagach, "you won't see your son to-day. At noon to-morrow I 'll put a whistle in my mouth and call together all the birds in my place, and they 'll come. Among others will be twelve doves. I 'll put my hand in my