and her hair was the same as Fedelma's. Then he lifted the latch of the door
and went very joyfully into the little house.

But when the young woman at the spinning wheel turned round he saw that she
was not Fedelma at ail. She had a little mouth, a long and a hooked nose, and
her eyes looked cross-ways at a person. The thread she was spinning she bit
with her long teeth, and she said, "You are welcome here, Prince."

"And who are you?" said the King of Ireland's Son. "Aefa is my name," said
she, "I am the eldest and the wisest daughter of the Enchanter of the Black
Back-lands. My father is preparing a task for you," said she, "and it will be
a terrible task, and there will be no one to help you with it, so you will
lose your head surely. And what I would advise you to do is to escape out of
this country at once."

"And how can I escape?" said the King of Ireland's Son, "There's only one way
to escape," said she, "and that is for you to take the Slight Red Steed that
my father has secured under nine locks. That steed is the only creature that
can bring you to your own country. I ,rill show you how to get it and then I
will ride to your home with you."

"And why should you do that?" said the King of Ireland's Son.

"Because I would marry you," said Aefa.

"But," said he, "if I live at all Fedelma is the one I will marry."

No sooner did he say the words than Aefa screamed out, "Seize him, my cat-o'-
the-mountain. Seize him and hold him." Then the cat-o'-the-mountain that was
under the table sprang across the room and fixed himself on his shoulder. He