The Orange Fairy Book

All the people loved them, and loud was the weeping when one day, as the three maidens sat on the rocks on the edge of the sea, dipping their feet in t

ong, and the best players at shinny in that country. At Christmastide that year, when famil

of the knight of Grianaig, for his lawn i

others a

think of the games that we have playe

he will,’ said Ian; ‘we will dri

his window, and was wroth; and bade his men bring the youths before him. When he stood in hi

new full well that the remembrance of my daughters would come back

eek your daughters. Let them be to windward, or to leeward, or under the four brown boundaries of

ay, and in seven days the ship ran herself on to a beach of white sand, and they all went ashore. They had none of them ever seen that land be

e eldest brother. And the man

aughters of the knight of Grianaig, who ar

ked the young man again. A

ianaig you must get into this basket, and b

to move — up, and up, and up — till he had gone about half-way, when a fat black raven flew at

l; but he fared no better, for the raven flew u

n. But when he was halfway u

ick! or I shall be blinded!’ And the men pulled with all their mig

of tobacco?’ asked the rav

u tobacco for trying to peck

wing, and then went on; ‘Now I will take you to the house of the big giant, where the knight’s daughter sits sewing, sewing, till even her thimble is wet with tears.’ And the raven hopped be

here?’ asked she.

ot go where

hither by a gia

but tell me where the gian

ate. But, there, neither to leeward, nor to windward, nor in the four brown boundaries of the sea, is there any man that can hold b

hain, but he could not move it, and fell on to his knees. At that he rose swiftly, and gathering up his strength, he seized the ch

,’ said he; ‘but as yet he is only sixteen years ol

er’s son?’ he asked, as

the youth, who had no wish

indward, or in the four brown boundaries of t

me as I wrestle with my mother. And one time she

nd strove with each other till

er,’ said Ian; and

d at last Ian threw the giant, and wished that the raven were there

sharp enough to take off his head,’ said the raven. And the k

words, and promise to go no further, for she will seek to help you. Instead, seek the midd

of all I have,’ answered Ian.

lf in clean water, and take balsam from a vessel on top of the door, and rub it over your body, and

treaties, he set out to seek her next sister. He found her where she wa

u here?’ asked t

ou can go?’ answered he;

l be married to the giant

et him home?

s neither to leeward, nor to westward, nor in the four brown boundaries of the sea, any man tha

he could not move it, and fell on his knees. At that he rose to his feet, and gathering up his strength mightily, he seized the chain,

,’ said he; ‘but as yet he is only sixteen years ol

er’s son?’ he asked, as

no wish that this giant should know him either;

on his two knees. ‘You are the stronger,’ cried Ian; ‘but I am not be

him to the ground. Then he called to the raven, and the raven came flapping towards him, and said: ‘Put your hand under my right wing, and you wi

will be as strong as many men. But beware of the words of the knight’s daughter, for she is cu

’ answered Ian break

ven had told him, and the next morning he entered

castle.’ But he took no heed, and went on his way till he reached the castle where the knight’

here?’ asked she.

ot go where

ght hither

ull well,

r’s son?’ asked she agai

tell me, why a

ill, and I must marry him,’ she sobbed. And Ian too

hain that hangs o

e. But in a moment he was on his feet again, and seized the chain with so much strength that four links came of

e my chain a shake save only Ian, the soldier’s son. And if he has reached me, then he has left my two br

ier’s son?’ asked he.

f a su

ndaries of the sea, who are able to shake my battle chain? There is only Ia

oulders of the giant, he threw him heavily to the ground. ‘Stumpy black raven, come quick!’ cried he; and the raven came, and beat the giant about the head with his wings, so that he could not get up. Then he bade Ian tak

aughters to the edge of the rock that leads to the lower world. But take heed to go down first

ered Ian, ‘for well

but you have no knowledge of what is before you.’ And p

ldest sister, when they reached the castle where she had been kept a prisoner. Together they all rode to the edge of the rock, and then Ian lay down and shouted, and the basket was drawn up, and in it they got one by one, and were let down to the bottom. When the last one was gone, Ian should have gone also, and le

oy at being free the knight’s daughters had forgotten all about Ian, and had set

to him, and while he was taking counsel with hims

ed my words,’ h

efore am I here,’ answer

t take counsel will take combat. This night, you will sleep in t

ay you, stay in th

o, but on the mor

he giant’s stable where stood a horse to whom it

oor swings without ceasing to and fro, and if it touches you, it

and thought he was quite safe, but the door slamme

he fell fainting on the stable floor. Quickly the raven pounced on him, and picked him up in his beak and cla

t you wonder not at aught you may behold; neither shall yo

heroes stretched on their backs, done to death by three spears that still stuck in their breasts. B

ll is laid upon you to travel in our comp

And he beheld a hag, horrible to look upon, seated on a rock, and before he could speak, she struck him with he

h the water which you must fetch from the island of Big Women. See that you do not tarry.’ And Ian turned

and land. When you reach the island of Big Women, sixteen boys will come to meet you, and will offer the horse food, and wish to take her saddle and bridle from her. But see that they touch her not, and give her f

rode across the sea to the island of the Big Women, where the sixteen stable lads met him, and each

o her.’ And thus he did. And while he wa

only.’ And so it fell out; and when the sixteen stable-boys saw that he would drink

ithstood their fair words, and he forgot the cou

of getting home again’; for while the lads were slee

broke through the stable door, an

not too late to win over the sea? But first take that sword which

him. Then he ran to the well and poured some of the water into a leather bottle, and jumpi

sleep, for to-morrow you must make the heroes to live again, and must slay

begged Ian; but the raven sh

as she was, before she could cast spells on him. Next he sprinkled the water over the heroes, who came to

re to be wedded this day to your two brothers, and the youngest to the chief of the men at the rock. But her gold cap you shall give to me and, if you want it, you have only to think of me and I will brin

and she was off, away and away till she reached the church of Grianaig, and th

, ‘draw your sword and cut o

at be for all the hel

ere laid by the giants on me and the raven; for I was a girl and

tanding at her house door. She asked him whence he had come, and he answered as the raven had told him, that he came from behind. Next she

you shall have a drink.’ And she gave him some milk

d?’ asked Ian, and th

ungest daughter, like unto the caps that her sisters wear, such as are not to be foun

nd beholding a strange youth, he sa

replied Ian. And

n, for you can help me to make

hat cap, and you k

, ‘or I shall be hanged on a tree;

er for yourself, and lock me into the smithy to-night, and I will

Ian wished for the raven, and the raven

ff,’ said the raven

hat for all the hel

said the raven, ‘for I was a youth like

es so that he might see nothing. After that he lay down and slept till mor

y, drawing it from under his pillow

woke again, and this time he beheld a

h, ‘and the spells are broken.

here Ian had left the dead horse; but no h

the spells are broken’; and she

ade a servant belonging to the knight’s youngest daughter bear it

g me the man who really made the cap I wi

first struck dumb with joy; then she declared that she would marry nobody else. At this some one fetched to her the knight of Grianaig, and when Ian had told his tale, he vowed that the maide

en well; and the two elder brothers were fain to lea

of the Wes

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