Give the swanskin to her then, and tell her that the only thing she can do for
you is to show you the way to her father's dominion. She will do that, and so
you will come to the House of the Enchanter of the Black Back-Lands. And now
farewell to you, Son of King Connal."

Laheen the Eagle spread out her wings and flew away, and the King's Son
journeyed on, first with the sun before him and then with the sun at his back,
until he came to the shore of a wide lake. He turned his horse away, rested
himself on the ground, and as soon as the clear day came he began to watch for
the three swans.



III


They came, they flew down, and when they touched the ground they trans- formed
themselves into three maidens and went to bathe in the lake. The one who
carried the green scarf left her swanskin under a bush. The King's Son took it
and hid it in a hollow tree.

Two of the maidens soon came out of the water, put on their swanskins and flew
away as swans. The younger maiden stayed for a while in the lake. Then she
came out and began to search for her swanskin. She searched and searched, and
at last the King's Son heard her say, "I would do anything in the world for
the creature who would find my swanskin for me." Then he came from where he
was hiding and gave her the swanskin. "I am the Son of the King of Ireland,"
he said, "and I want you to show me the way to your father's dominion."

"I would prefer to do anything else for you," said the maiden. "I do not want