` Bring hither a boat , ' cried the princess , ` that I may go and see for myself the harp that gives forth such music . ' And a boat was brought , and Ian Direach stepped in to row it to the side of the ship . To the further side he rowed , so that none could see , and when he helped the princess on board he gave a push to the boat , so that she could not get back to it again . And the music sounded always sweeter , though they could never see whence it came , and sought it from one part of the vessel to another . When at last they reached the deck and looked around them , nought of land could they see , or anything save the rushing waters . The princess stood silent , and her face grew grim . At last she said : ` An ill trick have you played me ! What is this that you have done , and whither are we going ? ' ` It is a queen you will be , ' answered Ian Direach , ` for the king of Erin has sent me for you , and in return he will give me his bay colt , that I may take him to the Seven Big Women of Dhiurradh , in exchange for the White Sword of Light . This I must carry to the giant of the Five Heads and Five Necks and Five Humps , and , in place of it , he will bestow on me the blue falcon , which I have promised my stepmother , so that she may free me from the spell which she has laid on me . ' ' I would rather be wife to you , ' answered the princess . By-and-by the ship sailed into a harbour on the coast of Erin , and cast anchor there . And Gille Mairtean the fox bade Ian Direach tell the princess that she must bide yet a while in a cave amongst the rocks , for they had business on land , and after a while they would return to her . Then they took a boat and rowed up to some rocks , and as they touched the land Gille Mairtean changed himself into a fair woman , who laughed , and said to Ian Direach , ' I will give the king a fine wife . ' Now the king of Erin had been hunting on the hill , and when he saw a strange ship sailing towards the harbour , he guessed that it might be Ian Direach , and left his hunting , and ran down to the hill to the stable . Hastily he led the bay colt from his stall , and put the golden saddle on her back , and the silver bridle over his head , and with the colt 's bridle in his hand , he hurried to meet the princess . ' I have brought you the king of France 's daughter , ' said Ian Direach . And the king of Erin looked at the maiden , and was well pleased , not knowing that it was Gille Mairtean the fox . And he bowed low , and besought her to do him the honour to enter the palace ; and Gille Mairtean , as he went in , turned to look back at Ian Direach , and laughed . In the great hall the king paused and pointed to an iron chest which stood in a corner .
` In that chest is the crown that has waited for you for many years , ' he said , ` and XXXXX last you have come for it . '
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