ing,
when the shoemaker had gone out and they were alone, she said to him,
'See if the latch is on the door.' The young man hastened to do her
bidding, but as soon as he touched the latch, his fingers stuck to it,
and there he had to stay for many hours, till the shoemaker came back,
and the girl let him go. Hanging his head, he went home, but he told no
one what had befallen him.

Then was the turn of the third man, and his foot remained fastened to
the floor, till the girl unloosed it. And thankfully, he ran off, and
was not seen looking behind him.

'Take the purse of gold,' said the girl to the shoemaker, 'I have no
need of it, and it will better thee.' And the shoemaker took it and told
the girl he must carry the shoes for the wedding up to the castle.

'I would fain get a sight of the king's son before he marries,' sighed
she.

'Come with me, then,' answered he; 'the servants are all my friends, and
they will let you stand in the passage down which the king's son will
pass, and all the company too.'

Up they went to the castle, and when the young men saw the girl standing
there, they led her into the hall where the banquet was laid out and
poured her out some wine. She was just raising the glass to drink when a
flame went up out of it, and out of the flame sprang two pigeons, one of
gold and one of silver. They flew round and round the head of the girl,
when three grains of barley fell on the floor, and the silver pigeon
dived down, and swallowed them.

'If thou hadst remembered how I cleaned the byre, thou wouldst have
given me my share,' cooed the golden pigeon, and as he spoke three more
grains fell, and the silver pigeon ate them as before.

'If thou hadst remembered how I thatched the byre, thou wouldst have
given me my share,' cooed the golden pigeon again; and as he spoke three
more grains fell, and for the third time they were eaten by the silver
pigeon.

'If thou hadst remembered how I got the magpie's nest, thou wouldst have
given me my share,' cooed the golden pigeon.

Then the king's son understood that they had come to remind him of what
he had forgotten, and his lost memory came back, and he knew his wife,
and kissed her. But as the preparations had been made, it seemed a pity
to waste them, so they were married a second time, and sat down to the
wedding feast.

From 'Tales of the West Highlands.'

The Lady of the Fountain.

In the centre of the great hall in the castle of Cae