come out one by one, and pass before the king.

One by one they came; tall and short, dark and fair, plump and
thin, and each said 'I am she whom you want. You will be foolish
indeed if you do not take me.'

But he took none of them, neither short nor tall, dark nor fair,
plump nor thin, till at the last the crop-headed girl came out.

'This is mine,' said the king, though she was so ugly that most
men would have turned from her. 'We will be married at once, and
I will carry you home.' And married they were, and they set forth
across a meadow to the king's house. As they went, the bride
stooped and picked a sprig of shamrock, which grew amongst the
grass, and when she stood upright again her ugliness had all
gone, and the most beautiful woman that ever was seen stood by
the king's side.

The next day, before the sun rose, the king sprang from his bed,
and told his wife he must have another game with the Gruagach.

'If my father loses that game, and you win it,' said she, 'accept
nothing for your prize but the shaggy young horse with the stick
saddle.'

'I will do that,' answered the king, and he went.

'Does your bride please you?' asked the Gruagach, who was
standing at his own door.