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AN GAODHAL.
áit ar bh-fuair sé é ó n' athair.
Bhí 'n duin' uasal air bhruach na fairge
agus bhí luthgháir mhór air nuair a chonn¬
airc sé a mac.
"Seo é do mhac," ar san Ridire, "tá
ceird mhaith aige, acht má fhágfaidh tú a¬
gam bliadhain eile é beidh dhá cheird aige.
"Fágfaidh mé agad é agus fáilte,"
ar san t-athair.
Thug an Ridire Cormac air ais leis
agus bhí sé múnadh draoidheachta dhó go
rabh an dára bliadhain caithte; agus bhí
fhios aig Cormac nach d-tiubharfadh an
Ridire a bhaile é mar nár chuir an t-ath¬
air 'san margadh é thabhairt air ais an
dára h-uair.
'Nuair nach d-tainic an mac a bhaile
aig deireadh na dára bliadhna, chuaidh an
t-athair d'a thóruigheacht. Bhí sé a siúbh¬
al go d-tainic sé go bruach na fairge,
agus casadh an Ridire leis.
"Cia 'n fáth nach d-tug tú mo mhac a
bhaile agam?" ar sesean.
"Ní rabh sé ann mo mhargadh," ar san
Ridire, "ach tig leat é do bheith agad air
maidin a márach."
Thug an Ridire an duin' uasal leis go
d-ti 'n g-caisleán, agus air maidin lá
air na mhárach tug sé an t-athair agus
an mac leis agus d'fhág iad air bhruach
na fairge. Ann sin dubhairt an mac,
"Tá rásaidhe móra le bheith i nGaill¬
ibh a márach, deunfaidh mé capall díom
fhéin agus gnóthuigh mé gach uile rása.
Cuir gach h-uile phíghinn a thig leat fhágh¬
ail orm. 'Nuair a bheidheas na rásaidhe
thart tiucfaidh Ridire na g-Cleasa le'm
cheannach; gheobhfaidh tú dhá cheud punt
orm; ná sgar le mo shrian, agus béidh
mé 'san m-baile romhat féin."
Air maidin lá 'r na mhárach righneadh an
mac capall de fhéin, le diallaid agus
srian óir. Chuaidh an t-atair a marc¬
uigheacht air, agus chuaidh do na rásaidh.
Ghnóthuigh sé gach h-uile rása, dhíol sé é,
agus fuair dhá cheud punt air; ach níor
sgar sé leis an srian, agus bhí an mac
'san m-baile roimhe.
Lá 'r na márach chuaidh an t-athair 's
an mac go teach an fheilméara agus d'
tleman was on the edge of the sea and
he was very glad when he saw his son.
"Here is your son," said the Knight,
"he has a good trade, but if you leave
him to me another year he will have
two trades."
"I shall leave him to you, and wel¬
come," said the father.
The Knight brought Cormac back
with him and he taught him sorcery
until the end of the second year, and
Cormac knew that the knight would
not bring him home because the fath¬
er did not bargain to have him brought
back the second time.
When the son did not come home at
the end of the second year the father
went in search of him. He journeyed until he
came to the edge of the sea, and he met the
Knight
"Why did you not bring my son home to me?”
said he.
"It was not in my contract," said the Knight
“but you can have him to-morrow morning."
The Knight brought the gentleman to the castle,
and next day he brought the father and son with
him and left them on the shore. Then the son
said. —
"Great races are to be in Galway to-morrow, I
shall turn myself into a horse, and shall win every
race. Wager every penny you can get on me.
When the races are over the Druidical Knight
will come to buy me; you will get two hundred
pounds for me ; don’t part with my bridle, and
I shall be at home before yourself."
The next morning the son turned himself into
a horse, with a golden saddle and bridle. The
father rode him and went to the races. He won
every race ; he sold him, and he got two hundred
pounds for him ; but he did not part with the bri¬
dle, and he was at home before him.
The next day the father and son went to the
farmer's house and asked the daughter.
"Show me that your son has a trade,” said the
farmer.
They all went out and the son built a fine
house which had four wheels under it. They
went into it and the house went on the wheels
like a big coach.
"I am satisfied that your son has a trade,” said
the farmer; “he can have my daughter.”
