The Savannah morning news., 1902-06-15

est. When me bother DuVan was at
tackled by the men o Torcal the Dane
he fought his way out, five to one, an
reached home by wadin' the rapids in
season to warn us. An bitther cold
was the wather on his wounds"
Then Culain says. eager like: when
the wild boar came near to KILN me.
twas Firbis thrust the spear into his
throat, never fearin' for himself. An
he outwitted the men O. the North Isles
-eapturin their long ships when they
were ashore, an holdin' them from
burning the dun"
An what has Culain done to be de-
servin' his share?" asked King Clad.
Has none a good word for him. nor a
tale of a brave deed?"
"Sthrong of arm is he says Firbis,
slow o speech, an can sing songs o.
battle an tell rare tales o. heroes"
What use the strong arm when tbs
put to no good actin'?" says the King.
is that all?"
Nay" says Duvan, but yestermorn
he drew Donncha, the groom, from the
deep pit where he had lain, bruised,
through the night-an' brought him in
on his shoulder: an many a load o.
faggots has he carried through the for
est to the hut o. bethoc, that was his
nurse
@@0N CaAahA HNOOQ SllcDNs
"A servin' man could we'll ha' done
as much says Clad. mo part o. this
kingdom o mine is for one who has
done naught' to win 1t. What princess
would wed a sluggard?"
Then the hot blood leaped to the face
o. Culain.
"Sluggard shall we name me no long
er! he cried. "A princess will l WIN
for me own, an bring her to share with
me; or, If We will, give the kingdom to
Firbis an Duvan, an kingdom o. me
own will l seek, or die tryin'."
well spoken" answered the old
king-hidin' the gladness that warmed
his heart at the words o. the lad. But,
as l say, so shall it be- Take a sword
an what horse We choose, an a purse
with ten gold pieces will L give to ye-
an then be off into the world to seek
yer fortune an learn what 1t means
to be o the blood o. kings. A year an
day, an two days more / give We to
prove that we've the heart of a brave
man, an to win yer right to third o.
me lands"
SO Culain took his strong sword an
the purse from his fathers hand an
went down to get horse to ride. An
there in the stable stood Bethoc, the
erone that had been nurse to his moth
er before him.
'Tis out in the world yere goin'. :"
says she. leanin' on her staff.
"Ay," says Culain, stout like.
Then hearken to me word IT'S
through servin' yen gain skill an pow
er, an at last reach the road for win
min the good comm to We. Hold fast
to yer word once given, an set yer
hand to naught without carryin' It
through. Mindin' that, all will go
well, though 1t seem blacker nor storm
in winter. Have care that the horse We
take De strong an swift, though may
be tits not for long ven ride it."
Then Culain dropped the sllken purse
in her hand.
wen be needin' II more nor meself,"
says he, an took the best horse that
offered. Then, with wave o. his hand
to the ones watchin' at the gate, he
rode away into the deep forest
For many an hour he held on his
way, never seem Twin thing (forbye
twas the birds singin' in the branches.
or roe deer leapin' up the mountain
side), till he came to deep valley far
from the sea. An there he came on
low hut, built o. boughs; an before
1t two men sittfn' fishin' in a little
small sthream that ran by, convenient
like. Torn an tattered lookin' they
were, but not seemin' to mind aught,
or to be shamed O. their queer looks.
gave ali mere says Culdin, as
mountin' an stoopin' to dhrink the
runnin' wather.
" 'Tis welcome We are" says the
first ragged man, pullin' up a little
fish. When the second fellow saw it
wrigglin' on the hook he dropped his
own line. an they fell to THROWN dice
to see which should have IL. An Gu
lain had never seen that done at all.
Who are ye?" he asked, wonderin'
han r1as.f
"Taig am /; an this me fellow, is
Derg O. the Mill. bein' dhriven out O.
one for not workin'"
AN what sort O playin' is that ye're
afther?' asked Culaine-ever one to be
easy led from his purpose, an forget
tin what errand h was ridin' on.
Thry 1t an see, II we've aught worth
stakin'," laughed Derg o. the Mill
Tis rare sport yen find 1t, an we'll
suitin' a fine lad like yerself"
Culain, willin' to learn, sat down on
the green bank, an began THROWN dice
with the two beggar-men, stakin' what
he had against what small trifes were
theirs, till luck left him entirely. Sure
first thing he knew the horse was
Taig San Derg o. the Mill was -four
ishin' the fine sword he'd won.
We'll be afther sellin' them quick"
says Derg.
Wait" says Culain. "Ts there no
way for me to get them again? Ill
hour is 1t to me for losin' them"
Have We naught else to stake ?"
asked Taig.
Nay" says Culain. AN no more
would I play If l had. An evil day is it
to me for meetin' yees''
"Ay but wait" says Taig. Three
beggar men are we now, an may do
great things as any kings son. If we
fare out into the world together. VIII
We buy back yer horse with six months
o. servin' us?"
That will l." answered Culain, AN
me sword with other six"
"Done!" said Derg AN I'll cast in
the bargain me teachin' of We how to
vile singfn birds, an what else l
know, an Taig IL give We the word
that makes flowers bloom where tits
spoken. An in the end We may amount
to somethin' worth thravelin' with us"
So poor Culain, shamed to tell them
how he was a kings son seekin' for
tune an princess, served the two
Deggar-men; DRAWN wather an build
in the fire an roastin' meat Every
day he grew stronger an more active:
an many a thrick o. sword play he
learned O. Derg, that had been a fight
in man till he grew too lazy. An
Taig, that had given up bein' a black
smith to take to beggin', showed him
many strange way o. managin'
horses.
An as the days went on, Culain
asked many a time IL they were never
goin' out in the world TO win honor.
an always they promised that they
would the day comm; but the day
never came at all, for there was al
ways more THROWN O. dice, or some