But he took none of them , neither short nor tall , dark nor fair , plump nor thin , till at the last the crop-headed girl came out . ` This is mine , ' said the king , though she was so ugly that most men would have turned from her . ` We will be married at once , and I will carry you home . ' And married they were , and they set forth across a meadow to the king 's house . As they went , the bride stooped and picked a sprig of shamrock , which grew amongst the grass , and when she stood upright again her ugliness had all gone , and the most beautiful woman that ever was seen stood by the king 's side . The next day , before the sun rose , the king sprang from his bed , and told his wife he must have another game with the Gruagach . ` If my father loses that game , and you win it , ' said she , ` accept nothing for your prize but the shaggy young horse with the stick saddle . ' ' I will do that , ' answered the king , and he went . ` Does your bride please you ? ' asked the Gruagach , who was standing at his own door . ` Ah ! does she not ! ' answered the king quickly . ` Otherwise I should be hard indeed to please . But will you play a game to-day ? ' ' I will , ' replied the Gruagach , and they played , and sometimes it seemed as if one would win , and sometimes the other , but in the end the king was the winner . ` What is the prize that you will choose ? ' asked the Gruagach . ` The shaggy young horse with the stick saddle , ' answered the king , but he noticed that the Gruagach held his peace , and his brow was dark as he led out the horse from the stable . Rough was its mane and dull was its skin , but the king cared nothing for that , and throwing his leg over the stick saddle , rode away like the wind .
On the third morning the king got up as usual before dawn , and XXXXX soon as he had eaten food he prepared to go out , when his wife stopped him . '
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