As soon as the key was turned in the lock Ian wished for the raven , and the raven came to him , carrying the cap in his mouth . ` Now take my head off , ' said the raven . But Ian answered : ` Poor thanks were that for all the help you have given me . ' ` It is the only thanks you can give me , ' said the raven , ` for I was a youth like yourself before spells were laid on me . ' Then Ian drew his sword and cut off the head of the raven , and shut his eyes so that he might see nothing . After that he lay down and slept till morning dawned , and the man came and unlocked the door and shook the sleeper . ` Here is the cap , ' said Ian drowsily , drawing it from under his pillow . And he fell asleep again directly . The sun was high in the heavens when he woke again , and this time he beheld a tall , brown-haired youth standing by him . ' I am the raven , ' said the youth , ` and the spells are broken . But now get up and come with me . ' Then they two went together to the place where Ian had left the dead horse ; but no horse was there now , only a beautiful maiden . ' I am the horse , ' she said , ` and the spells are broken ' ; and she and the youth went away together . In the meantime the smith had carried the cap to the castle , and bade a servant belonging to the knight 's youngest daughter bear it to her mistress . But when the girl 's eyes fell on it , she cried out : ` He speaks false ; and if he does not bring me the man who really made the cap I will hang him on the tree beside my window . ' The servant was filled with fear at her words , and hastened and told the smith , who ran as fast as he could to seek for Ian . And when he found him and brought him into the castle , the girl was first struck dumb with joy ; then she declared that she would marry nobody else . At this some one fetched to her the knight of Grianaig , and when Ian had told his tale , he vowed that the maiden was right , and that his elder daughters should never wed with men who had not only taken glory to themselves which did not belong to them , but had left the real doer of the deeds to his fate . And the wedding guests said that the knight had spoken well ; and the two elder brothers were fain to leave the country , for no one would converse with them . The Fox and the Wolf -LSB- From Tales of the West Highlands . -RSB-
At the foot of some high mountains there was , once upon a time , a small village , and a little way off two roads met , one XXXXX them going to the east and the other to the west .
At In as before beside by into like of to