to bring it at the first pluck, for you will not get the second, for I will die before the sun sets if you don’t bring it at the first pluck.”
So he grasped the dart tightly, and swept it at the first pluck from her forehead.
“Now,” she says, “leave your hand on the wound, and it shall not bleed, and never shall there be a mark on it;” and he did so.
“What is your request?” says she.
“Nothing,” says he.
“You must have some request,” says she. “Do you require gold?” “No,” he says.
“Well, you must have some request and name it.”
“All the request I’ll ask of you is that anybody of my name, if they sailed across the lake in a washing tub, would not be drowned.” So it was granted, and the queen reached him her jewelled hand, and bid him adieu, and told the woman to leave him high and dry at his own home; and so she did.
Ever since, while the name of him was to be had, he could sail in a pigin, and that was less nor a washing tub, and be safe.
William Kinsey from Tom Kilroy of Glan, by the shore of the lough.
Another story told of this lake is of Taylor McAniff, who was one day taking potatoes across in a boat, when a woman put up her head and told him not to go that way anymore with his potatoes, for that they were dirtying the clothes she had on her lines; and if he didn’t take another route he’d mind it; and you may be sure he did.
Bewitched Butter.
I have already given (Folk-Lore, vol. iv., p. 180, and vol. v., p. 184) several tales relative to the superstition that persons by aid of witchcraft can take the butter from
