But the giant answered : ` Ah , that is for you to discover . ' And Ian dared say no more , and hastened down to the waste . There , as he hoped , he met his friend Gille Mairtean the fox , who bade him eat his supper and lie down to sleep . And when he had wakened next morning the fox said to him : ` Let us go down to the shore of the sea . ' And to the shore of the sea they went . And after they had reached the shore , and beheld the sea stretching before them , and the isle of Dhiurradh in the midst of it , the soul of Ian sank , and he turned to Gille Mairtean and asked why he had brought him thither , for the giant , when he had sent him , had known full well that without a boat he could never find the Big Women . ` Do not be cast down , ' answered the fox , ` it is quite easy ! I will change myself into a boat , and you shall go on board me , and I will carry you over the sea to the Seven Big Women of Dhiurradh . Tell them that you are skilled in brightening silver and gold , and in the end they will take you as servant , and if you are careful to please them they will give you the White Sword of Light to make bright and shining . But when you seek to steal it , take heed that its sheath touches nothing inside the house , or ill will befall you . ' So Ian Direach did all things as the fox had told him , and the Seven Big Women of Dhiurradh took him for their servant , and for six weeks he worked so hard that his seven mistresses said to each other : ` Never has a servant had the skill to make all bright and shining like this one . Let us give him the White Sword of Light to polish like the rest . ' Then they brought forth the White Sword of Light from the iron closet where it hung , and bade him rub it till he could see his face in the shining blade ; and he did so . But one day , when the Seven Big Women were out of the way , he bethought him that the moment had come for him to carry off the sword , and , replacing it in its sheath , he hoisted it on his shoulder . But just as he was passing through the door the tip of the sheath touched it , and the door gave a loud shriek . And the Big Women heard it , and came running back , and took the sword from him , and said : ` If it is our sword you want , you must first bring us the bay colt of the King of Erin . ' Humbled and ashamed , Ian Direach left the house , and sat by the side of the sea , and soon Gille Mairtean the fox came to him . ` Plainly I see that you have taken no heed to my words , Ian Direach , ' spoke the fox . ` But eat first , and yet once more will I help you . ' At these words the heart returned again to Ian Direach , and he gathered sticks and made a fire and ate with Gille Mairtean the fox , and slept on the sand .
At dawn next morning Gille Mairtean said XXXXX Ian Direach : ' I will change myself into a ship , and will bear you across the seas to Erin , to the land where dwells the king .
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