The Irish standard., 1898-05-28

10 the gallows with the good-for-
nothing who made this bridget" ex-
claimed the cnraged king.
Then the seer sprang forth, and threw
himself on the king, crying:
'How dare you curse an innocent
mani"
They drew their swords, but the king
was no match for the seer, and after
short struggle he fell Nfeless to the
ground. The seer bound the king on
his horse, and sent TIA. animal home
with its dead master.
Then concealing himself beneath the
bridge, he waited the coming Of the
second king. He came the next evening,
and seeing the blood stains on the
bridge, exclaimed:
Someone has been slain here! What
scoundrel has dared usurp my kingly
Officer"
How dare you thus revile me?"
cried the seer, throwing himself on the
king, his drawn sword in his hand.
"You are a child of DEATH"
The king defended himself bravely,
but in vain after short struggle he
fell by the sword OF his mighty antag-
onist. The seer bound the corpse on
the horse and sent the animal home;
then, again concealing himself, he
awaited the arrival of the third brother.
The third evening, at sunset, the
youngest king approached the bridge,
riding the sun horse. He rode fast,
for he was late. Noticing the red
blood on the ground, he halted, exclaim-
ing:
Some wretch has presumed to snatch
victim from my hngly arml"
Scarcely had he spoken, when the
seer rushed at him with drawn sword.
"Good!" said the king, and drawing
his sword, he defended himself man
fully.
They fought long and furiously, un-
til at length their swords broke. Then
the seer spoke:
with swords we can strive no longer.
Now listen to me- We will become
wheels, and roll down yonder noun
tain. The wheel that breaks is van,
quished."
agreed. will be wagon wheel.
Be you any other wheel you like" said
the king.
mot So" replied the cunning seer.
you can be any wheel you like, but
will be the wagon Wheel"
The king conscnting, they assembled
the mountain. There they changed
into wheels. But as they rolled down
the steep incline the wagon wheel
crashed against the other wheel, and
broke it. The wagon wheel then be-
came the seer, and cried, joyfully:
"You are lost! The victory is minel"
"Not so fast, my friend!" said the
king, and he stood in his own shape be-
fore the seer. "You have only broken
my finger. Now have a suggestion.
We will be flames, and the flame that
consumes the other is the victor. Twill
be red flame, you can be white one."
mo, no." replied the seer; "you can
be white fame, I will be red flame"
The king again consented, they
placed themselves on the road to the
bridge and began to burn each other
pitilessly, but without result. Then
white-haired old beggar passed by.
Seeing him, the white flame cried:
"Old man, bring water and pour it
on the red flame. will give you pen
ny for your trouble"
But the red flame said: II will give
you ducat if you pour water on this
white fame"
The beggar naturally preferred the
ducat to the penny; he brought water
and poured it on the white flame. Thus
the king died. The red flame now be-
came the seer; he mounted the sun
horse and, after thanking the beggar
for his help, rode away, followed by his
servant.
Deep was the sorrow In the palace at
the death of the royal brothers. Tho
walls were hung with black, and loud
wailing resounded through the build
ing. Striga moved restlessly from
room to room. Suddenly she stopped,
stamped her foot on the ground, shook
her fist, and rolled her glittering eye;
then, mounting broomstick, she'
seized her three daughters under her
arm, and, hey, presto! they were in the
air.
The seer and his servant Travelled fast,
for they feared Striga's revenge. They
passed through gloomy forests, crossed
barren heaths, and had already ac-
complished good part of their jour-
ney. But, alas! their provisions were
exhausted. Hunger tormented them,
and they could find nothing with which
to still its pangs.
At length they came to tree laden
with apples of rosy hue, whose weight
bore the wide-spreading branches to
the ground.
Heaven be praised!" exclaimed the
servant, fastening to the tree.
"Stay!" cried the seer. "Fluck not
the fruit!" Then drawing his sword
he smote the tree, and forth gushed q
stream of red blood. "It would have
been death to have eaten those apples,"
said he; "that tree was the eldest queen.
Her mother placed her there to hurry
us out of the world!"
Though vexed at the disappointment,
the servant was glad his life had been
saved, and he followed the seer in the
hope of soon finding other refresh
ment.
1t was not long ere stream of clear
fresh water crossed their path.
"Well," said the servant, "if there is
nothing solid to be had, we can at least
drink, and cheat our hunger"
Drink not!" exclaimed the seer, dis
mounting, and shifting the stream with
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