` Where have you come from , then ? ' said the old man . ` From the Blue Mountains , ' said she . ` Indeed ! ' said the old man ; and what are they doing there ? ' ` They are making ready this very day , ' said the Eagle , ` for the marriage of the daughter of the King of the Blue Mountains . For three years now she has refused to marry anyone whatsoever , until she should give up all hope of the coming of the man who released her from the spell . Now she can wait no longer , for three years is the time that she agreed with her father to remain without marrying . ' The Irishman knew that it was for himself she had been waiting so long , but he was unable to make any better of it , for he had no hope of reaching the Blue Mountains all his life . The old man noticed how sad he grew , and asked the Eagle what she would take for carrying this man on her back to the Blue Mountains . ' I must have threescore cattle killed , ' said she , ` and cut up into quarters , and every time I look over my shoulder he must throw one of them into my mouth . ' As soon as the Irishman and the old man heard her demand they went out hunting , and before evening they had killed three-score cattle . They made quarters of them , as the Eagle told them , and then the old man asked her to lie down , till they would get it all heaped up on her back . First of all , though , they had to get a ladder of fourteen steps , to enable them to get on to the Eagle 's back , and there they piled up the meat as well as they could . Then the old man told the Irishman to mount , and to remember to throw a quarter of beef to her every time she looked round . He went up , and the old man gave the Eagle the word to be off , which she instantly obeyed ; and every time she turned her head the Irishman threw a quarter of beef into her mouth . As they came near the borders of the kingdom of the Blue Mountains , however , the beef was done , and , when the Eagle looked over her shoulder , what was the Irishman at but throwing the stone between her tail and her neck ! At this she turned a complete somersault , and threw the Irishman off into the sea , where he fell into the bay that was right in front of the King 's Palace . Fortunately the points of his toes just touched the bottom , and he managed to get ashore . When he went up into the town all the streets were gleaming with light , and the wedding of the Princess was just about to begin .
He went into the first house he came to , and this happened XXXXX be the house of the King 's hen-wife .
At as for from near of over till to until