Page:The Allies Fairy Book.djvu/45



was once a time when every creature and bird Scotch was gathering to battle. The son of the King of Tethertown said that he would go to see the battle, and that he would bring sure word home to his father the king, who would be king of the creatures this year. The battle was over before he arrived, all but one fight, between a great black raven and a snake, and it seemed as if the snake would get the victory over the raven. When the king’s son saw this, he helped the raven, and with one blow he takes the head off the snake. When the raven had taken breath, and saw that the snake was dead, he said: “For thy kindness to me this day I will give thee a sight. Come up now on the roof of my two wings.” The king′s son mounted upon the raven, and, before he stopped, he took him over seven Bens, and seven Glens, and seven Mountain Moors.

“Now,” said the raven, “seest thou that house yonder? Go now to it. It is a sister of mine that makes her dwelling in it; and I will go bail that thou art welcome. And if she asks thee, Wert thou at the battle of the birds? say thou that thou wert. And if she asks, Didst thou see my likeness? say that thou sawest it. But be sure that thou meetest me