The Knight of the Glen , greatly surprised at what he had heard the old woman tell , and knowing he wanted his finger from his childhood , began to understand that the story was true enough . ` And is this my deliverer ? ' says he . ' O brave fellow , I not only pardon you all , but will keep you with myself while you live , where you shall feast like princes , and have every attendance that I have myself . ' They all returned thanks on their knees , and the Black Thief told him the reason they attempted to steal the Steed of Bells , and the necessity they were under in going home . ` Well , ' says the Knight of the Glen , ` if that 's the case I bestow you my steed rather than this brave fellow should die ; so you may go when you please , only remember to call and see me betimes , that we may know each other well . ' They promised they would , and with great joy they set off for the King their father 's palace , and the Black Thief along with them . The wicked Queen was standing all this time on the tower , and , hearing the bells ringing at a great distance off , knew very well it was the princes coming home , and the steed with them , and through spite and vexation precipitated herself from the tower and was shattered to pieces . The three princes lived happy and well during their father 's reign , and always keeping the Black Thief along with them ; but how they did after the old King 's death is not known . -LRB- 4 -RRB- -LRB- 4 -RRB- The Hibernian Tales . THE MASTER THIEF THERE was once upon a time a husbandman who had three sons . He had no property to bequeath to them , and no means of putting them in the way of getting a living , and did not know what to do , so he said that they had his leave to take to anything they most fancied , and go to any place they best liked . He would gladly accompany them for some part of their way , he said , and that he did . He went with them till they came to a place where three roads met , and there each of them took his own way , and the father bade them farewell and returned to his own home again . What became of the two elder I have never been able to discover , but the youngest went both far and wide . It came to pass , one night , as he was going through a great wood , that a terrible storm came on . It blew so hard and rained so heavily that he could scarcely keep his eyes open , and before he was aware of it he had got quite out of the track , and could neither find road nor path . But he went on , and at last he saw a light far away in the wood . Then he thought he must try and get to it , and after a long , long time he did reach it . There was a large house , and the fire was burning so brightly inside that he could tell that the people were not in bed .
So he went XXXXX , and inside there was an old woman who was busy about some work .
as before for from in like on than that till