Only see that not one of her feathers touches anything within the house , or evil will befall you . ' ' I thank you for your counsel , ' spake Ian Direach , ` and I will be careful to follow it . ' Then he took the path to the giant 's house . ` Who is there ? ' cried the giant , as someone knocked loudly on the door of his house . ` One who seeks work as a servant , ' answered Ian Direach . ` And what can you do ? ' asked the giant again . ' I can feed birds and tend pigs ; I can feed and milk a cow , and also goats and sheep , if you have any of these , ' replied Ian Direach . ` Then enter , for I have great need of such a one , ' said the giant . So Ian Direach entered , and tended so well and carefully all the birds and beasts , that the giant was better satisfied than ever he had been , and at length he thought that he might even be trusted to feed the falcon . And the heart of Ian was glad , and he tended the blue falcon till his fathers shone like the sky , and the giant was well pleased ; and one day he said to him : ` For long my brothers on the other side of the mountain have besought me to visit them , but never could I go for fear of my falcon . Now I think I can leave her with you for one day , and before nightfall I shall be back again . ' Scarcely was the giant out of sight next morning when Ian Direach seized the falcon , and throwing a cloth over her head hastened with her to the door . But the rays of the sun pierced through the thickness of the cloth , and as they passed the doorpost she gave a spring , and the tip of one of her feathers touched the post , which gave a scream , and brought the giant back in three strides . Ian Direach trembled as he saw him ; but the giant only said : ` If you wish for my falcon you must first bring me the White Sword of Light that is in the house of the Big Women of Dhiurradh . ' ` And where do they live ? ' asked Ian . But the giant answered : ` Ah , that is for you to discover . ' And Ian dared say no more , and hastened down to the waste .
There , XXXXX he hoped , he met his friend Gille Mairtean the fox , who bade him eat his supper and lie down to sleep .
For as at before of on that to with within