ainst the bank, and the queen and Cuglas, and
all the party, left the boats and went on under the trees until they
came to a mossy glade.

Then the queen waved her wand, and silken couches were spread under the
trees, and she and Cuglas sat on one apart from the others, and the
courtiers took their places in proper order.

And the queen waved her wand again, and wind shook the trees above them,
and the most luscious fruit that was ever tasted fell down into their
hands; and when the feast was over there was dancing in the glades to
the music of the harps, and when they were tired dancing they set out
for the boats, and the moon was rising above the trees as they sailed
away over the lake, and it was not long until they reached the bank
below the fairy palace.

Well, between hunting in the forest, and sailing over the lake, and
dancing in the greenwood glade and in the banquet hall, the days passed,
but all the time the prince was thinking of the Princess Ailinn, and one
moonlit night, when he was lying awake on his couch thinking of her, a
shadow was suddenly cast on the floor.

The prince looked towards the window, and what should he see sitting
on the sill outside but a little woman tapping the pane with a golden
bodkin.

The prince jumped from his couch and opened the window, and the little
woman floated on the moonbeams into the room and sat down on the floor.

"You are thinking of the Princess Ailinn," said the little woman.

"I never think of anyone else," said the prince.

"I know that," said the little woman, "and it's because of your love for
each other, and because her mother was a friend to me in the days gone
by, that I have come here to try and help you; but there is not much
time for talking, the night advances. At the bank below a boat awaits
you. Step into it and it will lead you to the mainland, and when you
reach it you will find before you a path that will take you to the green
fields of Erin and the plains of Tara. I know you will have to face
danger. I know not what kind of danger; but whatever it may be do not
draw your sword before you tread upon the mainland, for if you do you
shall never reach it, and the boat will come back again to the floating
island; and now go and may luck go with you;" and saying this the little
woman climbed up the moonbeams and disappeared.

The prince left the palace and descended to the lake, and there before
him he saw a glistening boat; he stepped into it,