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Check out children's author Rick Walton's books. |
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The Hound of the Hill of Spears |
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ONCE upon a time, there were a King and Queen of Ireland who had one son; and he was called Owen. The Queen died while Owen was very young, and the King married again. His new wife hated the boy, and did everything she could to annoy and hurt him, and drive him away: Owen, for his part, didn't mind her much, only went his own way.
He was very fond of fowling, and one day when out with his spear he followed far a beautiful blue hawk, the rarest ever he had seen. He did not catch it, but he brought home a feather that fell from its wing. And, as the feather was a pretty one, he showed it to all in the castle-his new mother among them. After supper that evening, his mother proposed that he should play a game of chess with her. He asked for what they should play; and she answered that whoever should win could put geasa* upon the other, to do anything commanded.
(* An obligation of honor which no one can refuse or shun.)
Owen agreed. And when they played he won the game. His stepmother was very much vexed at this. She asked him to play another game. Owen agreed again, but this time his stepmother won.
"Well," said Owen, "what geasa do you put on me?"
Said his mother: "The feather you brought home today was from the wing of the Blue Hawk of Connaught, which is owned by the Giant of the Seven Heads and Seven Trunks. All the world covets that Hawk; but though hundreds of champions have gone seeking it, none of them ever returned. The geasa I put upon you is to set out upon your travels and never return till you bring me the Blue Hawk of Connaught."
` Poor Owen was sorely distressed by the terrible sentence. Said he, "For the game I won, the geasa I lay on you is that you stand upon the top of the tallest tower on my father's castle from the moment of my setting out till the hour of my returning with the Blue Hawk of Connaught. You are to face the wind, and your food will be what seeds the wind blows you, and your drink the rain that falls on you."
His stepmother was enraged when she heard this. But she had to abide by her own bargain. And the next morning Owen, after bidding sad good-by to father and friends and every one in the castle, set out upon his travels. He saw his stepmother on the tallest tower facing the windthere to remain, feeding on the seeds that were blown to her and drinking the rain, until he would return-if ever he would return-with the Blue Hawk of Connaught.
Far and far, and very far, poor Owen traveled; till, late that evening, as he sat down by the sideof a little stream, weary and worn, and hungry, too, and was taking from his pocket a bit of oatcake that he carried, down from the hills came bounding a beautiful white hound, which stood by and looked with hungry eyes at him eating his cake.
"I'm very, very hungry," said the hound. "Will you divide with me?"
"My poor hound," said Owen, "you surely cannot be half as hungry as myself."
But he divided his oat-cake, and gave half of it to the hound, which ate it greedily. Then it asked, Owen what journey he was bent upon. And Owen told the hound his sad story.
"Poor Owen," said the hound, "it is sorry for you I am. You are going upon the most venturous, and most terrible task in all the world; but, if I can do anything to help you, I surely shall. Come with me this night anyhow, and rest yourself. They call me the White Hound of the Hill of Spears."
He thanked the hound, and away with it he went. And it brought him to a fine house on a hill, where Owen got a soft bed. And a sweet sleep he had there that night.
Next morning the White Hound spoke to him about the errand he was on, and told him how the Blue Hawk was guarded by the terrible Giant of the Seven Heads and Seven Trunks.
"I have lived on this hill for a hundred years," said the Hound, "and have seen nine-and-ninety brave heroes pass every year on the quest of the Blue Hawk, but none of them ever returned. However," said the Hound, "the Giant is just now in need of a boy to care for the Hawk, and your best, plan is to offer him your service. When he asks what you can do, answer him that you are apt at anything you turn to, but especially handy at minding hawks. If you be lucky enough to get charge of the Hawk, be as kind to the bird as you can, till you make it grow to like you. If you succeed in this, it is well and very well-it may be that you will be able to get its consent to go away with you. But when you have got its consent, your terrible task is only begun: for every stone in the Giant's castle is enchanted, and can tell him if anything goes wrong. If he discovers you trying to steal the Blue Hawk, you cannot escape with your life. The Giant lives five thousand miles' journey from here; but if you look into my left ear you'll get a chip; which, when you take it out, will turn into a white rod. Strike me with the rod and I'll be a dappled steed, and then will quickly carry you to the Giant's castle."
Owen thanked the Hound right heartily. Out of its left ear he took a little chip, which turned into a rod in his hand. He struck the Hound with the rod, and lo! it was a beautiful dappled steed! Then, mounting the steed, he started off. Only the heels of his horse touched the tops of the hills, as they whirled over the world like a comet. They o'ertook the wind before them, but the wind behind couldn't o'ertake them.
And in the evening they reached the castle of the Giant of the Seven Heads and Seven Trunks. Dismounting, Owen struck the horse with the rod again, and turned it into the White Hound of the Hill of Spears once more. The Hound counselled and advised Owen again, and wished him success; and it said if he ever escaped from the Giant's castle with his life, it would be waiting here to help him. Owen thanked it right heartily, and bade it good-by.
Then he went up to the castle and knocked at the gates; and a Giant of Seven Heads and'Seven Trunks, the most terrible Owen had ever seen, came out and asked who he was and what he wanted. He answered that he was Owen, the King of Ireland's son, and was a boy in search of a master. The Giant asked what he could do, and Owen answered that he was apt at anything he turned to, but especially handy at minding hawks.
"Very well," said the Giant, "as I'm just needing such a boy, I'll engage you for a bag of gold, to serve me for a year and a day; and in the morning I'll show you your work."
He took Owen in, gave him supper and bed; and in the morning told him he was going to put his work before him.
To a tall tower in one corner of the castle, the Giant led Owen, and showed him the beautiful Blue Hawk, which he himself had followed in the forest not many days before.
"Your duty," said the Giant, "is to care for and feed that Hawk, and see that nothing happens to it." And he warned Owen that if he ever interfered with the Hawk or neglected his duty, he would immediately pay for it with his head. He then left Owen and the bird together.
At once Owen began being friendly with the bird. He was very good indeed to it, fed it on the best, and washed and sleeked it every morning, and saw that it never wanted for anything it desired.
Very well and good. The Hawk liked Owen from the first; and fonder of him it grew every day, till at last it consented to go off with him.
They planned to escape at twelve o'clock on a certain night. When the time came, through the window both of them were getting, the bird under Owen's arm, when the Hawk happened to flutter, and the tip of its wing to touch a stone.
That instant the stone cried out, "Master! Master! Master!" in a voice that could be heard the distance of seven hills and seven dales. And the next minute the Giant had overtaken and caught Owen, and brought himself and the bird back into the castle.
"Now," said the Giant, "your life is mine."
"All right," said Owen, "I'm willing to die."
"But wouldn't you like better to live?" said the Giant.
"How do you mean?" said Owen.
The Giant said, "I only want one thing to make me Master of the World-but that one thing I have never yet been able to get. It is the Sword of Light belonging to the King of Denmark, a flash from which can light up half the world; and which is in the innermost room of the King's palace, and day and night guarded by ten thousand warriors. Hundreds of heroes have gone seeking that Sword, but none ever returned with his life. Your life," he said to Owen, "will be spared if within a year and a day you bring me that wonderful Sword."
Owen said that worse than lose his life in the quest he could not; and he would have a try anyhow. So off he set on his adventure.
He had not gone far, when the White Hound of the Hill of Spears appeared, and asked him how he had fared. Poor Owen told what had happened; and the Hound said that it indeed pitied him, for that he was now going on a far more venturesome task than before. "But," said the Hound, "I'll do everything in my power to help you." It commanded Owen to take from its left ear the chip which should become a rod in his hand, and turn the Hound into a magnificent eagle.
Owen did as he was directed; then mounted upon the eagle's back, and started. The tips of the eagle's wings brushed the fire off the stars, as they went over the world like a comet. They o'ertook the whirlwinds before them, and the whirlwinds behind couldn't o'ertake them-and they never stopped or stayed till, late that evening, they alighted at the castle of the King of Denmark. Here Owen turned the eagle into the Hound again.
The Hound advised Owen to ask for employment at the castle, and when the King should inquire what he could do, to answer that he was apt at anything he turned to, but especially handy at caring for swords. "He needs a man just now to mind the Sword of Light," said the Hound, "and may employ you. If you ever escape from the castle with your life, you'll find me here waiting for you."
Right heartily Owen thanked the Hound, and went up and knocked at the castle gates. The King himself it was who came out. And he asked Owen who he was and what he wanted. He answered that he was Owen, King of Ireland's son, and was looking for service. The King asked him what he could do, and Owen said he was apt at anything he turned to, but especially handy at caring for swords.
"Well," said the King, "I'm needing such a boy just now. And I'll give you a bag of gold to serve me for a year and a day. Come in, and in the morning I'll show you your work."
He brought Owen into the castle, gave him his supper and a good bed that night; and the next morning he took him to the innermost room where the Sword of Light was kept. And though the room had neither window nor mousehole, it was as bright as dazzling day, because the Sword of Light was there shining.
Owen was put in charge of the Sword to mind and care for it; and warned that if anything happened to the Sword his life would pay the penalty.
Great care he surely took of it, polished it well and carefully every morning and night, and was never tired attending to it. At the end of a month, when he had got to know the Sword well, and had spied out all the secret ways of the palace, he made up his mind to escape with the sword. So at midnight one night, after a feast, when all the guards, having eaten and drunk too heartily, had fallen asleep, Owen took the Sword from its case, and was escaping by a window when the first flash from it lit up half the world, and wakened the King and the ten thousand guards, and every one in, and for a hundred miles around, the palace, with its fierce and fiery light. Owen was overtaken and brought back; and the King ordered him to be executed immediately.
"Is there no way at all in which I can save or earn my life?" said Owen.
"No way," said the King of Denmark, "but an impossible way."
"What do you mean?" said Owen.
Said the King of Denmark, "There is only one thing I want to make me Master of the Worldand that is the wonderful Steed of Bells belonging to the King of Spain. Hundreds of heroes have set out to steal that Steed, but none ever came back with his life. I'll spare your life, if within a year and a day, you bring me the King of Spain's Steed of Bells."
"Well," said Owen, "if my life's to be lost, I may as well lose it in a good cause, anyhow. So I'll try; and, worse than fail I cannot do."
Off then he started; but he hadn't gone far when he found the White Hound awaiting him.
"What luck?" asked the White Hound.
And sorry was the Hound when he heard how Owen had fared and failed. And far sorrier still when he learnt the new task Owen had to perform. "For," said the Hound, "I'm afraid it's an impossible task. But, all the same, I'll do what I can to help you."
He had Owen strike him with the rod, and thereby turn him into a ship in full sail. And getting Owen aboard, the ship started, and o'ertook the wind before, while the wind behind couldn't o'ertake it till at last they ran ashore under the castle of the King of Spain.
"Go up to the castle," said the Hound,; "and ask for employment. As luck would have it, the King is just now seeking for a trusty man to mind and tend the Steed of Bells. When he asks what you can do, say you are apt at anything, but particularly good at minding horses. If he employs you, you may have a chance in a million of stealing the Steed. If you escape alive you'll find me here waiting to aid you."
Right heartily Owen thanked the Hound, and went off to the castle.
The King himself came out, and asked Owen who he was and what he wanted. The youth answered that he was Owen, the son of the King of Ireland, and was traveling in search of employment. The King asked him what he could do, and Owen replied that he was apt at anything, but particularly good at minding horses. Then the King said he was just now in need of a boy for minding a particular horse; and that he would give Owen a bag of gold, if he served him faithfully for a year and a day.
"Come inside," said the King, "and in the morning I'll show you your duties."
Owen, nothing loath, went in, had a good supper, a soft bed, and a sweet sleep. And in the morning, the King showed him the Steed of Bells, which had a gorgeous stable all to itself, and told him it was the most wonderful steed in all the world, and that champions from the earth's ends had come trying to steal this animal, but that the minute they laid hand on him, the thousand bells with which he was decked, rang, and their ringing was heard round half the world. And that con. sequently no man could steal the Steed-but all lost their lives in the attempt. So with many warnings, the King left the Steed in Owen's care.
Owen was particularly kind to the Steed of Bells, watched it, and cared for it, and groomed it, and fed it well-hoping to win it by his kindness. And, indeed, in a short time he and the Steed were great friends, surely. He wasn't a month with the King of Spain when he had made up with the Steed of Bells to take it away; and the Steed of Bells was right willing to go with him, so dearly did it love Owen.
So in the middle of a night, when the King and his court and all the guards were sleeping heavily after a feast, Owen got up and roused the Steed of Bells, and started off with it. But just as he was getting out of the castle gate, didn't one of the bells touch the gate-and that moment all the thousand bells upon the Steed rang out so loud that they were heard round half the world. The King and his court and all the world woke up; and Owen was seized, and led into the castle again and the Steed of Bells safely stabled.
And then the King told poor Owen that he had earned his death, as many a reckless fellow had done before.
"Is there no chance for my life?" Owen asked.
"There's one," said the King, "but it is an impossible one."
"Anyhow," said Owen, "let me hear what it is."
"It is," said the King, "that you steal for me, and bring me here, within a year and a day, Starlight, the beautiful daughter of the King of Greece. I only need Starlight for my wife, that I may be Master of the World. Thousands of champions from all parts of the world have gone to Greece on the same errand, but not one has ever lived to return."
"Well," said Owen, "one other life cannot much matter; and, worse than fail I cannot do."
Then the King parted with Owen; and Owen went down to the sea, where he found the White Hound of the Hill of Spears awaiting him. When the Hound heard how he had fared, he was right sorry. "But," said the Hound, "I'll do all I can for you, anyhow."
So by the Hound's directions Owen turned it into a tremendous whale. Owen got on its back, and started for Greece. They swept the ocean like a whirlwind. They o'ertook the mad waves before them, and the mad waves, behind couldn't o'ertake them-till at length they ran into the harbor by the castle of the King of Greece.
Here the Hound was turned again from a whale to a beautiful ship.
By the advice of the White Hound, Owen decided to invite the King of Greece to come down and taste some of the fine wines he had brought from Spain.
"If he consents to come," said the Hound, "he'll bring with him his beautful daughter, Starlight. And then it will be for you to win her heart and steal her if you can; and I'll quickly carry you both to Spain."
When the King of Greece heard that the King of Ireland's son was in the harbor, and wished him to come and taste his. Spanish wines, he came at once with all his court, amongst them his beautiful daughter, Starlight, with whom Owen fell instantly in love. Owen feasted them right royally on board the ship, and gave them the choicest of the sweet wines of Spain; and asked them to come again as often as they wished.
In the harbor he lay for three weeks, and the King and his court came often to chat with him, and drink the wines of Spain. And every time they came, they brought the beautiful Starlight, with whom Owen was able to get in a few words. And every. succeeding time he saw her he loved her more and more deeply. And, indeed, it was plain to be seen that Starlight was each time getting fonder and fonder of Owen-for he was a handsome, brave fellow.
At length he persuaded her to come down to the ship one day with only her guardian lady, that they might have a sail in the harbor. But when Owen got them aboard, behold, he started the ship at full speed, and headed for Spain.
Soon the news spread that Owen had carried off the King's beautiful daughter, and the King had his swiftest boats launched, and away in pursuit. But though they sailed at their swiftest, Owen's boat outdistanced them far, and they had to return sorrowfully home.
But little sorry was Starlight to be carried away by one whom she loved as she did Owen, the King of Ireland's son.
When they reached Spain, and got on dry land, just by the King's castle, and when the ship was again turned into the White Hound of the Hill of Spears, the Hound asked Owen to strike him with the wand. Owen did so, and the Hound became a most beautiful young lady, the picture of Starlight, the daughter of the King of Greece. So much alike were they that, seeing both of them standing together, Owen could not tell the real Starlight from the White Hound. By the Hound's directions, Owen left the real Starlight with her guardian in a cave on the seashore, and took the enchanted one with him to the castle of the King of Spain, and handed her over to the King, who was overjoyed, and gave Owen his release and bestowed on him the Steed of Bells into the bargain. "For,"- the King said, "by your heroism well have you earned it."
With the Steed of Bells Owen went to the seashore, and there waited with Starlight till evening, when the Hound, having cast a sleeping spell on every one in the castle and escaped, came trotting in his own shape to the shore. Here the Hound changed itself into a ship, Owen got aboard with the beautiful Princess and her guardian, and the Steed of Bells, and went on the wind's wings to Denmark.
Having landed by the castle of the King of Denmark, the ship turned into a Hound, and the Hound into a Steed of Bells, the very picture of the real Steed of Bells of the King of Spain. And Owen, leaving the real Steed of Bells with Starlight, by the shore, went to the castle with the enchanted Steed of Bells. Great was the joy of the King of Denmark to get the Steed of Bells he had so long coveted. He joyfully gave Owen his release, and bestowed on him the Sword of Light in reward for his valiant daring.
To the shore, then, went Owen, and waited with Starlight and the real Steed of Bells, till the enchanted Steed, having cast a sleeping spell over the court of the King of Denmark and escaped, came trotting down to them. Here it changed itself into a ship, and Owen got on board with the Princess and her friend, and the Steed of Bells, and the Sword of Light. They swept like the sunlight over the waters until they came to the coast of Connaught-where they landed, just by the castle of the Giant of the Seven Heads and the Seven Trunks, who owned the Blue Hawk of Connaught.
Here the White Hound, again giving directions to Owen, changed itself into a Sword of Light, the very picture of the real one. Leaving the real Sword with the Steed and Starlight, on the shore, Owen took the enchanted one to the castle of the Giant. And when the Giant appeared Owen handed him the Sword and asked for his release. This the Giant joyfully gave him, and besides, bestowed on him the Blue Hawk of Connaught as a reward for his heroism. He was overjoyed to get the Sword of Light. For now, he said, he could destroy all his enemies, and be Master of the World.
Owen, with the Blue Hawk, went off to the shore and there waited with his companions.
And behold l in the middle of the night didn't the enchanted Sword arise and cut off the Heads of the Giant of the Seven Heads and Seven Trunks, the tyrant who tyrannized over the world -and then return, in its hound shape, to Owen and his companions. Then Owen, with Starlight, the Steed of Bells, the Sword of Light, the Blue Hawk, and the White Hound, set out for his father's castle.
"And now," said the White Hound, "as you are near home, and safe and successful, I have one favor to ask from you."
Said Owen, "Name any favor in the whole world that it is in my power to grant-and it will be yours. For to you I owe everything."
Said the White Hound, "The favor I ask is that you will cut off my head with the Sword of Light."
"That is something I will never do, my best of friends," said Owen, sorrowfully.
But the White Hound insisted. And it assured Owen that instead of its harming the Hound, it would be its saving. So Owen, at last persuaded, cut off the Hound's head with the Sword of Light. And that instant the Hound changed into a most handsome young man.
"It was by enchantment," said the young man, "that I was the White Hound of the Hill of Spears. France is my country, and I'm the son of France's King. It was my father's enemy who laid the cruel spell upon me, from which I could never be freed till my Hound's head was cut off by the Sword of Light. That Sword could never have been got but by you. If I have been good to you, you have been still better to me. To you and your beautiful Princess, I wish every blessing that can come. I will bid good-by to you now, and be off to my own country, where a winsome Princess has been seven years awaiting me."
Owen and his beautiful Starlight went forward, then, with the Steed of Bells, the Sword of Light, and the Blue Hawk of Connaught.
When at length. he sighted his father's castle, he saw his stepmother standing on the topmost tower, with her face to the wind, living on what grains the wind blew to her, and drinking the rain that fell on her. When she caught sight of Owen returning, and saw with him the Blue Hawk of Connaught, which was perched on his shoulder, she gave out of her a scream that rang three times round the world, fell from the tower, and was instantly killed on the flags below.
Out to meet Owen went his father all joyful, and the gentlemen and ladies of the court dancing with delight to welcome him-for sorely they had missed one whom they loved so well. And equally as warm was the welcome they, one and all, put before his beautiful Starlight.
Owen and Starlight were wedded. And the wedding festivities, the greatest ever known, lasted nine days and nine nights; and the last day and night's feasting were finer than the first. His father resigned the throne to Owen, who, possessed of his most beautiful Queen, his Sword of Light, his Steed of Bells, and his Blue Hawk of Connaught, lived and died the greatest King, and the happiest, that Ireland and the world ever knew.
(from The Donegal Wonder Book , by Seumas MacManus)
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