should be in danger,
and need help from one who can swim a river or dive beneath a wave, call
to me and I will come to you.' Then he plunged into the stream, and was
seen no more.

The cows were standing ready in the place where Covan had left them, and
they journeyed on all that day, till, when night fell, they reached
the cottage. Joyful indeed was the old man as the cows went into their
stables, and he beheld the rich milk that flowed into the pail of the
golden-haired maiden with the silver comb.

'You have done well indeed,' he said to Covan son of Gorla. 'And now,
what would you have as a reward?'

'I want nothing for myself,' answered Covan the Brown-haired; 'but I ask
you to give me back my brothers and my sister who have been lost to us
for three years past. You are wise and know the lore of fairies and of
witches; tell me where I can find them, and what I must do to bring them
to life again.'

The old man looked grave at the words of Covan.

'Yes, truly I know where they are,' answered he, 'and I say not that
they may not be brought to life again. But the perils are great--too
great for you to overcome.'

'Tell me what they are,' said Covan again, 'and I shall know better if I
may overcome them.'

'Listen, then, and judge. In the mountain yonder there dwells a roe,
white of foot, with horns that branch like the antlers of a deer. On the
lake that leads to the land of the Sun floats a duck whose body is green
and whose neck is of gold. In the pool of Corri-Bui swims a salmon with
a skin that shines like silver, and whose gills are red--bring them
all to me, and then you shall know where dwell your brothers and your
sister!'

'To-morrow at cock-crow I will begone!' answered Covan.

The way to the mountain lay straight before him, and when he had climbed
high he caught sight of the roe with the white feet and the spotted
sides, on the peak in front.

Full of hope he set out in pursuit of her, but by the time he had
reached that peak she had left it and was to be seen on another. And so
it always happened, and Covan's courage had well-nigh failed him, when
the thought of the Dog of Maol-mor darted into his mind.

'Oh, that he was here!' he cried. And looking up he saw him.

'Why did you summon me?' asked the Dog of Maol-mor. And when Covan had
told him of his trouble, and how the roe always led him further and
further, the Dog only answered:

'Fear nothing; I will soon catch her for you.' And in a