them, and then the old man
asked her to lie down, till they would get it all heaped up on her
back. First of all, though, they had to get a ladder of fourteen
steps, to enable them to get on to the Eagle's back, and there they
piled up the meat as well as they could. Then the old man told the
Irishman to mount, and to remember to throw a quarter of beef to her
every time she looked round. He went up, and the old man gave the
Eagle the word to be off, which she instantly obeyed; and every time
she turned her head the Irishman threw a quarter of beef into her
mouth.

As they came near the borders of the kingdom of the Blue Mountains,
however, the beef was done, and, when the Eagle looked over her
shoulder, what was the Irishman at but throwing the stone between her
tail and her neck! At this she turned a complete somersault, and threw
the Irishman off into the sea, where he fell into the bay that was
right in front of the King's Palace. Fortunately the points of his
toes just touched the bottom, and he managed to get ashore.

When he went up into the town all the streets were gleaming with
light, and the wedding of the Princess was just about to begin. He
went into the first house he came to, and this happened to be the
house of the King's hen-wife. He asked the old woman what was causing
all the noise and light in the town.

'The Princess,' said she, 'is going to be married to-night against her
will, for she has been expecting every day that the man who freed her
from the spell would come.'

'There is a guinea for you,' said he; 'go and bring her here.'

The old woman went, and soon returned along with the Princess. She and
the Irishman recognised each other, and were married, and had a great
wedding that lasted for a year and a day.

THE TINDER-BOX

A Soldier came marching along the high road--left, right! left, right!
He had his knapsack on his back and a sword by his side, for he had
been to the wars and was now returning home.

An old Witch met him on the road. She was very ugly to look at: her
under-lip hung down to her breast.

'Good evening, Soldier!' she said. 'What a fine sword and knapsack you
have! You are something like a soldier! You ought to have as much
money as you would like to carry!'

'Thank you, old Witch,' said the Soldier.

'Do you see that great tree there?' said the Witch, pointing to a tree
beside them. 'It is hollow within. You must climb up to the top, and
then you will s