Long he waited , but wait as he might , the basket never came back , for in their joy at being free the knight 's daughters had forgotten all about Ian , and had set sail in the ship that had brought him and his brothers to the land of Grianaig . At last he began to understand what had happened to him , and while he was taking counsel with himself what had best be done , the raven came to him . ` You did not heed my words , ' he said gravely . ` No , I did not , and therefore am I here , ' answered Ian , bowing his head . ` The past can not be undone , ' went on the raven . ` He that will not take counsel will take combat . This night , you will sleep in the giant 's castle . And now you shall give me a piece of tobacco . ' ' I will . But , I pray you , stay in the castle with me . ' ` That I may not do , but on the morrow I will come . ' And on the morrow he did , and he bade Ian go to the giant 's stable where stood a horse to whom it mattered nothing if she journeyed over land or sea . ` But be careful , ' he added , ` how you enter the stable , for the door swings without ceasing to and fro , and if it touches you , it will cause you to cry out . I will go first and show you the way . ' ` Go , ' said Ian . And the raven gave a bob and a hop , and thought he was quite safe , but the door slammed on a feather of his tail , and he screamed loudly . Then Ian took a run backwards , and a run forwards , and made a spring ; but the door caught one of his feet , and he fell fainting on the stable floor . Quickly the raven pounced on him , and picked him up in his beak and claws , and carried him back to the castle , where he laid ointments on his foot till it was as well as ever it was . ` Now come out to walk , ' said the raven , ` but take heed that you wonder not at aught you may behold ; neither shall you touch anything . And , first , give me a piece of tobacco . '
Many strange things did Ian behold in that island , more than he had thought XXXXX .
At as for if in on over that to while