The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-01-01
HERO TALES OF IRELAND
As Good as the Arabian
Nights.
Collected 10 the Original Irish from the Lips
Of Irish Story TeIlers.
oepprohi. 1899, BY Jeremiah Curtin.
THE TwENTY-THIRD TALE-

C.hai, Son OF King Conor, In Erin, and bloom
OF Youth. Daughter orthe King OF Hathony.
There was a King In Hathony long ago who
had an old castle by the sea. This King went
out walking one day along the clean. smooth
strand, and while walking the thought rose In
him to take u sail near the shore. He stepped
into his boat with attendants and men. and
was sailing about in enjoyment and pleasure.
when a wind came with n mist OF enchantment
and drove the boat away through the sea with
the King and his mon.
They were going before the wind. without
. sight Of sky or sea: no man in the boat could
fee the man who sat next to him. They wore
that. way moving in the mist. and the boat
mover stopped till 1t sailed into a narrow har-
Dor in u lonely place without house or habita-
ton.
Tho King left the boat well fastened at the
shore and went his way. walking till he came
to q castle. and what castle should 1t BIO but
the castle of King Conor. In Erin.
King Conor received the King OF Hathony
with great hospitality and welcome.
When the two had spent some days in COM
pany they became great fri ends and made a
match between their two children. The King
OF Hathony had a daughter called Bloom of
Youth. who was . years OF ago. and King Conor
had a son 10 years old. named Canal.
When tho King OF Hathony wished to 60
back to his own land. King Conor OF Erin gave
o ship to him.. and the King sailed away with
good wishes and with supplies for a day and q
year.
Bloom Of Youth grew UP in such beauty that
she had not her equal in Hathony or in other
lands. and CahaI, King Conor's son. became
such n hero that 1t was unknown was tho like
OF him in any place.
On a day Cahal said to his father: Make I'D
@rn SO. To- 49,. ,-l ,N,-1 a..
must leave homo now and be travelling
through the world till l know is there a bottor
man than myself in it."
1T is. indeed. time for you to be going"
said King Conor. for in three years you are
to marry Bloom OF Youth. the daughter OF tho
King Of Hathony. and you should be making
out tho place now where her father lives"
Next NOR ming Cahal took what treasures his
father gave him. and provisions. went to his
ship and raised sails. Away he went on his
voyage. sailing over tho sea in one way and
another. in this direction and that. He sailed
one year and three-auarters OF a second year.
but found no man to give tale or things OF the
King OF Hathony.
Once on a gloomy day he was sailing along
through the waves. when a strong north wind
rose. and blew with such force that he let his
ship go with 1t.
Three days and nights the ship went before
the north wind and on the fourth day, in tho
morning. 1t was thrown in on a rocky coast.
Cahal saved his life and his sword and went
away walking through tho country. On the
evening Of the fifth day he came to an old
castle near the seashore. and said to himself:
Il will not go In here to ask for lodgings like
ANY poor traveller" With that he walked I'D
and put a blow on the pole OF combat that
made the whole castle tremble.
Out rushed the messenger. what brought
you hero and what do you want2" asked he of
King Conor's son.
Il want men to meet mo in combat. seven
hundred champions on my right hand. seven
hundred on my left. seven hundred behind
me. and the same number in front OF me-"
The man ran in and gave the message to the
King.
"oh." said tho King Of Hathony. that is
my son-ln-law from Erin" and out he went.
Are you the son Of King Conor 2" asked the
King.
II am" said Canal
"a hundred thousand welcomes to you."
said the King.
Thankful am I for the welcomes and glad
TO receive them" said Cahal. II had great
trouble in coming: 1t is not easy to find YOU"
1T is not easy to find any man unless you
know the road to his house." said the King.
There was great teasting that night and en-
tsrtainment for Cahal. Mex day tho King said:
Your bride, my daughter. is gone these two
months. Striker. son of the King OF Tricks.
came to my castle and stole her away from
me-"
MY word for It. ho will not keep her unless
he is a better man than l." said Cahal.
Il am sure Of that" said the King. and I
said So"
MY own shin was wrecked on your coast,
and now you must give me another In place OF
It" said Cahal.
Twill" said the King. and a good ono: but
You can do nothing on sea against Striker"
II am moro used to tho sea now than to
land. i am so long on It," answered Cahal.
III you were born on the water and had lived
every day Of your life on it you could do moth
ing at sea against Striker. There Is not q man
living who can face him at sea"
Nothing would satisfy Cahal but to go
against Striker by sea, SO he took tho shin
which the King gave and sailed away. sailed
week after week till he was within n days
Journey OF Strikers castle. Striker thrust his
head up through tho top of the castle then and
let q blast out through his mouth that sent
Cahal's ship back twice the distance 1t had
come.
King Conor's son sailed forward again. and
Again Striker blew him back as far as he had
Che first timo.
NosA1A oAAAtS "" ~ tiio ShDtloO VI tu0 hluk OIL
RRthony.
Il said that you could do nothing against
Striker on sea. II you wish to get the upper
hand OF him ! will tell you now what to do.
Take this bridlo and shake it behind the
castle. whatever beast comes to you take that
one and ride away against Striker
q When Canal shook tho bride out came tho
gmallsst and uGliest beast in the stables. a
."Oh, then bad luck to you for coming" said
the Kings son. and so many fine Stoeds in
the sta bles."
THAT is tho pony my daughter used to ride,
that Is the best horse In the stables: take her.
She Is not easy to ride, though. for she Is full
OF tricks and enchantment. but If you are the
right man she'll not throw YOU. She goes on
water as well as land, ana you will 10 at your
onemy's castle to-day"
Cahsl mounted, aud away went tho mare.
She crossed one hill at the hrst leap. three at
the second. then twelve hills and valleys at
the third leap.Tent over land and sea, and
never stopped till she was In front Of Strikers
castle, two hours before sunset
Cahal sprqng from tho mare and struck tho
pole OF combat.
~"What do you want2" asked the attendant,