e castle, where he laid ointments
on his foot till it was as well as ever it was.

'Now come out to walk,' said the raven, 'but take heed that you wonder
not at aught you may behold; neither shall you touch anything. And,
first, give me a piece of tobacco.'

Many strange things did Ian behold in that island, more than he had
thought for. In a glen lay three heroes stretched on their backs, done
to death by three spears that still stuck in their breasts. But he kept
his counsel and spake nothing, only he pulled out the spears, and the
men sat up and said:

'You are Ian the soldier's son, and a spell is laid upon you to travel
in our company, to the cave of the black fisherman.'

So together they went till they reached the cave, and one of the
men entered, to see what should be found there. And he beheld a hag,
horrible to look upon, seated on a rock, and before he could speak,
she struck him with her club, and changed him into a stone; and in like
manner she dealt with the other three. At the last Ian entered.

'These men are under spells,' said the witch, 'and alive they can never
be till you have anointed them with the water which you must fetch from
the island of Big Women. See that you do not tarry.' And Ian turned
away with a sinking heart, for he would fain have followed the youngest
daughter of the knight of Grianaig.

'You did not obey my counsel,' said the raven, hopping towards him, 'and
so trouble has come upon you. But sleep now, and to-morrow you shall
mount the horse which is in the giant's stable, that can gallop over sea
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 food
yourself, and yourself lead her into the stable, and shut the door. And
be sure that for every turn of the lock given by the sixteen stable lads
you give one. And now you shall break me off a piece of tobacco.'

The next morning Ian arose, and led the horse from the stable, without
the door hurting him, and he rode across the sea to the island of the
Big Women, where the sixteen stable lads met him, and each one offered
to take his horse, and to feed her, and to put her into the stable. But
Ian only answered:

'I myself will put her in and will see to her.' And thus he did. And
while he was rubbing her sides the horse said to him:

'Every kind of drink will they off