After he had thus counselled Ian Direach, the fox changed himself into
a ship, and set sail for Erin. And the king of that country gave into
Ian Direach's hands the care of his horses, and never before did their
skins shine so brightly or was their pace so swift. And the king was
well pleased, and at the end of a month he sent for Ian and said to him:

'You have given me faithful service, and now I will entrust you with
the most precious thing that my kingdom holds.' And when he had
spoken, he led Ian Direach to the stable where stood the bay colt. And
Ian rubbed her and fed her, and galloped with her all round the
country, till he could leave one wind behind him and catch the other
which was in front.

'I am going away to hunt,' said the king one morning while he was
watching Ian tend the bay colt in her stable. 'The deer have come down
from the hill, and it is time for me to give them chase.' Then he went
away; and when he was no longer in sight, Ian Direach led the bay colt
out of the stable, and sprang on her back. But as they rode through
the gate, which stood between the palace and the outer world, the colt
swished her tail against the post, which shrieked loudly. In a moment
the king came running up, and he seized the colt's bridle.

'If you want my bay colt, you must first bring me the daughter of the
king of the Franks.'

With slow steps went Ian Direach down to the shore where Gille Mairtean
the fox awaited him.

'Plainly I see that you have not done as I bid you, nor will you ever
do it,' spoke Gille Mairtean the fox; 'but I will help you yet again.