murderers by their track, and found them in the harbour, sweating to
carry their boat in the harbour to the water, but unable to do so. For
God so fastened their skiff to the land that by no means could they
remove it. So being unable to resist the will of the All-Powerful,
they beseech as suppliants pardon of the man of God, then present.
Mindful of his Master as He prayed for the Jews who were crucifying
Him, he, a holy one, poured forth prayers for them, unworthy as they
were, to the Fount of Piety; and strengthened by the virtue of his
prayer, they were able to convey their boat quite easily to the water.
In payment for this benefit he obtained from the robbers the heads of
his brethren. When he had received these, he made his way back to the
place where their bodies had been lying, and fervently asked of God
to show forth His omnipotence in the resuscitation of His servants in
this life. Wondrous is what I relate, but in the truth of fact most
manifest. He fitted the heads to the bodies, and recalled them to life
by the virtue of the holy prayer--nay, rather, what is more correct,
he obtained their recall. These, thus marvellously resuscitated, bore
timber back to the monastery. But so long as they lived they bore the
scars of the wounds on their necks.


IX. HOW CIARAN RESTORED A CALF WHICH A WOLF HAD DEVOURED

8. At another time when he was keeping the herds of his parents in
a certain place, a cow gave birth to a calf in his presence. But a
[hound], altogether wasted with leanness, came, desiring to fill [his
belly] with whatso falleth from the body of the mother with the calf,
and stood before the dutiful shepherd. To which he said, "Eat,
poor wretch, yonder calf, for great is thy need of it." The hound,
fulfilling the commands of Queranus, devoured the calf down to the