In an instant Gille Mairtean the fox had sprung on his back , and gave him such a bite that he fell down unconscious . Quickly the fox took his own shape again , and galloped away to the sea shore , where Ian Direach and the princess and the bay colt awaited him . ' I will become a ship , ' cried Gille Mairtean , ` and you shall go on board me . ' And so he did , and Ian Direach let the bay colt into the ship and the princess went after them , and they set sail for Dhiurradh . The wind was behind them , and very soon they saw the rocks of Dhiurradh in front . Then spoke Gille Mairtean the fox : ` Let the bay colt and the king 's daughter hide in these rocks , and I will change myself into the colt , and go with you to the house of the Seven Big Women . ' Joy filed the hearts of the Big Women when they beheld the bay colt led up to their door by Ian Direach . And the youngest of them fetched the White Sword of Light , and gave it into the hands of Ian Direach , who took off the golden saddle and the silver bridle , and went down the hill with the sword to the place where the princess and the real colt awaited him . ` Now we shall have the ride that we have longed for ! ' cried the Seven Big Women ; and they saddled and bridled the colt , and the eldest one got upon the saddle . Then the second sister sat on the back of the first , and the third on the back of the second , and so on for the whole seven . And when they were all seated , the eldest struck her side with a whip and the colt bounded forward . Over the moors she flew , and round and round the mountains , and still the Big Women clung to her and snorted with pleasure . At last she leapt high in the air , and came down on top of Monadh the high hill , where the crag is . And she rested her fore feet on the crag , and threw up her hind legs , and the Seven Big Women fell over the crag , and were dead when they reached the bottom . And the colt laughed , and became a fox again and galloped away to the sea shore , where Ian Direach , and the princess and the real colt and the White Sword of Light were awaiting him . ' I will make myself into a ship , ' said Gille Mairtean the fox , ` and will carry you and the princess , and the bay colt and the White Sword of Light , back to the land . ' And when the shore was reached , Gille Mairtean the fox took back his own shape , and spoke to Ian Direach in this wise : ` Let the princess and the White Sword of Light , and the bay colt , remain among the rocks , and I will change myself into the likeness of the White Sword of Light , and you shall bear me to the giant , and , instead , he will give you the blue falcon . ' And Ian Direach did as the fox bade him , and set out for the giant 's castle . From afar the giant beheld the blaze of the White Sword of Light , and his heart rejoiced ; and he took the blue falcon and put it in a basket , and gave it to Ian Direach , who bore it swiftly away to the place where the princess , and the bay colt , and the real Sword of Light were awaiting him .
So well content was the giant XXXXX possess the sword he had coveted for many a year , that he began at once to whirl it through the air , and to cut and slash with it .
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