But when you seek to steal it , take heed that its sheath touches nothing inside the house , or ill will befall you . ' So Ian Direach did all things as the fox had told him , and the Seven Big Women of Dhiurradh took him for their servant , and for six weeks he worked so hard that his seven mistresses said to each other : ` Never has a servant had the skill to make all bright and shining like this one . Let us give him the White Sword of Light to polish like the rest . ' Then they brought forth the White Sword of Light from the iron closet where it hung , and bade him rub it till he could see his face in the shining blade ; and he did so . But one day , when the Seven Big Women were out of the way , he bethought him that the moment had come for him to carry off the sword , and , replacing it in its sheath , he hoisted it on his shoulder . But just as he was passing through the door the tip of the sheath touched it , and the door gave a loud shriek . And the Big Women heard it , and came running back , and took the sword from him , and said : ` If it is our sword you want , you must first bring us the bay colt of the King of Erin . ' Humbled and ashamed , Ian Direach left the house , and sat by the side of the sea , and soon Gille Mairtean the fox came to him . ` Plainly I see that you have taken no heed to my words , Ian Direach , ' spoke the fox . ` But eat first , and yet once more will I help you . ' At these words the heart returned again to Ian Direach , and he gathered sticks and made a fire and ate with Gille Mairtean the fox , and slept on the sand . At dawn next morning Gille Mairtean said to Ian Direach : ' I will change myself into a ship , and will bear you across the seas to Erin , to the land where dwells the king . And you shall offer yourself to serve in his stable , and to tend his horses , till at length so well content is he , that he gives you the bay colt to wash and brush . But when you run away with her see that nought except the soles of her hoofs touch anything within the palace gates , or it will go ill with you . ' After he had thus counselled Ian Direach , the fox changed himself into a ship , and set sail for Erin . And the king of that country gave into Ian Direach 's hands the care of his horses , and never before did their skins shine so brightly or was their pace so swift . And the king was well pleased , and at the end of a month he sent for Ian and said to him : ` You have given me faithful service , and now I will entrust you with the most precious thing that my kingdom holds . ' And when he had spoken , he led Ian Direach to the stable where stood the bay colt . And Ian rubbed her and fed her , and galloped with her all round the country , till he could leave one wind behind him and catch the other which was in front . ' I am going away to hunt , ' said the king one morning while he was watching Ian tend the bay colt in her stable .
` The deer have come down from the hill , and it is time for me XXXXX give them chase . '
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