er you, but see you take none,
save whey and water only.' And so it fell out; and when the sixteen
stable-boys saw that he would drink nothing, they drank it all
themselves, and one by one lay stretched around the board.

Then Ian felt pleased in his heart that he had withstood their fair
words, and he forgot the counsel that the horse had likewise given him
saying:

'Beware lest you fall asleep, and let slip the chance of getting home
again'; for while the lads were sleeping sweet music reached his ears,
and he slept also.

When this came to pass the steed broke through the stable door, and
kicked him and woke him roughly.

'You did not heed my counsel,' said she; 'and who knows if it is not too
late to win over the sea? But first take that sword which hangs on the
wall, and cut off the heads of the sixteen grooms.'

Filled with shame at being once more proved heedless, Ian arose and did
as the horse bade him. Then he ran to the well and poured some of the
water into a leather bottle, and jumping on the horse's back rode over
the sea to the island where the raven was waiting for him.

'Lead the horse into the stable,' said the raven, 'and lie down yourself
to sleep, for to-morrow you must make the heroes to live again, and must
slay the hag. And have a care not to be so foolish to-morrow as you were
to-day.'

'Stay with me for company,' begged Ian; but the raven shook his head,
and flew away.

In the morning Ian awoke, and hastened to the cave where the old hag was
sitting, and he struck her dead as she was, before she could cast spells
on him. Next he sprinkled the water over the heroes, who came to life
again, and together they all journeyed to the other side of the island,
and there the raven met them.

'At last you have followed the counsel that was given you,' said
the raven; 'and now, having learned wisdom, you may go home again to
Grianaig. There you will find that the knight's two eldest daughters
are 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 bring it to you.
And one more warning I give you. If anyone asks you whence you came,
answer that you have come from behind you; and if anyone asks you
whither you are going, say that you are going before you.'

So Ian mounted the horse and set her face to the sea and her back to
the shore, and she was off,