"Never mind that," said the gray old fellow. "I mustn't break my promise, and
so you must ask me for something."

"Very well," said the King's Son. "Then there's a field at the back of my
father's Castle and I want to see it filled with cattle to-morrow morning. Can
you do that for me?"

"I can," said the gray old fellow.

"Then I want fifty cows, each one white with a red ear, and a white calf going
beside each cow."

"The cattle shall be as you wish."

"Well, when that's done I shall think the wager has been paid," said the King
of Ireland's son. He mounted his horse, smiling at the foolish old man who
played cards with himself and who thought he could bring together fifty white
kine, each with a red ear, and a white calf by the side of each cow. He rode
away

His hound at his heel,
His hawk on his wrist;
A brave steed to carry him whither he list,
And the green ground under him,

and he thought no more of the gray old fellow.


But in the morning, when he was taking his horse out of the stable, he heard
the grooms talking about a strange happening. Art, the King's Steward, had