Well , you shall have your reward at once , that others may take warning from you . ' And waving his wand he touched with it the chest of the youth , who became a pillar of stone . Now Gorla of the Flocks and his wife were full of grief that they had lost a son as well as a daughter , for no tidings had come to them of Ardan their eldest born . At length , when two years and two days had passed since the maiden had led her kids to feed on the mountain and had been seen no more , Ruais , second son of Gorla , rose up one morning , and said : ` Time is long without my sister and Ardan my brother . So I have vowed to seek them wherever they may be . ' And his father answered : ` Better it had been if you had first asked my consent and that of your mother ; but as you have vowed so must you do . ' Then he bade his wife make a cake , but instead she made two , and offered Ruais his choice , as she had done to Ardan . Like Ardan , Ruais chose the large , unblessed cake , and set forth on his way , doing always , though he knew it not , that which Ardan had done ; so , needless is it to tell what befell him till he too stood , a pillar of stone , on the hill behind the cottage , so that all men might see the fate that awaited those who broke their faith . Another year and a day passed by , when Covan the Brown-haired , youngest son of Gorla of the Flocks , one morning spake to his parents , saying : ` It is more than three years since my sister left us . My brothers have also gone , no one know whither , and of us four none remains but I. No , therefore , I long to seek them , and I pray you and my mother to place no hindrance in my way . ' And his father answered : ` Go , then , and take our blessing with you . ' So the wife of Gorla of the Flocks baked two cakes , one large and one small ; and Covan took the small one , and started on his quest . In the wood he felt hungry , for he had walked far , and he sat down to eat . Suddenly a voice behind him cried : ' A bit for me ! a bit for me ! ' And looking round he beheld the black raven of the wilderness . ` Yes , you shall have a bit , ' said Covan the Brown-haired ; and breaking off a piece he stretched it upwards to the raven , who ate it greedily . Then Covan arose and went forward , till he saw the light from the cottage streaming before him , and glad was he , for night was at hand . ` Maybe I shall find some work there , ' he thought , ` and at least I shall gain money to help me in my search ; for who knows how far my sister and my brothers may have wandered ? ' The door stood open and he entered , and the old man gave him welcome , and the golden-haired maiden likewise .
As happened before , he was offered by the old man to herd his cows ; and , as she had done to his brothers , the maiden counselled him XXXXX leave such work alone .
Like So as before behind in of though to with