Page:West Irish folk-tales and romances - William Larminie.djvu/37

 Rh in the daytime at Cruahawn, of Connaught, and drink at Loch Ayachir-a-Guigalu, in Ulster, in the evening.

Kian, the son of Contje, came to him to have a sword made. He told him he would make it, but that the bargain would be to mind the Gloss that day.

"If she is not home with you to me in the evening, you must lay down your head on the anvil, that I may cut it off with your own sword."

Kian, the son of Contje, went then and took hold of her by the tail. When he came home in the evening, " Here is the Gloss outside," said he to Gavidjeen Go. There was a champion inside in the forge, whose name was the Laughing Knight. He ran out and said to Kian:

"The smith is about to put tempering on your sword, and unless you have hold of it, there will be no power in it when you wield it."

When Kian, the son of Contje, went in, he forgot to drive in the Gloss. Gavidjeen Go asked him, "Where is the Gloss?"

"There she is, outside the door."

"Put her in," said he.

When he went out she was gone.

"Lay down your head upon the anvil, that I may cut it off you."

"I am asking of you the favour of three days, to go and seek her."