Covan

‘You have done well indeed,’ he said to Covan son of

The Orange Fairy Book 2003

And when Covan had told him of his trouble, and how the roe always led him further and further, the Dog only answered:

The Orange Fairy Book 2003

And Covan went with him thankfully, and ate and rested, and laid aside three-thirds of his weariness.

The Orange Fairy Book 2003

Then Covan sped to the lake which led to the land of the Sun, where the duck with the green body and the golden neck was swimming among the water-lilies.

The Orange Fairy Book 2003

At these words the Dog of Maol-mor disappeared into the forest, and Covan went to seek his cows, which were standing in the hollow where the darkness had come upon them.

The Orange Fairy Book 2003

And they began to eat the grass by the side of the stream, while Covan listened to them and longed for some supper also, for they had travelled far, and his limbs were weak under him.

The Orange Fairy Book 2003

‘Go with me thither,’ he said to Covan, ‘and you shall lay aside three-thirds of your weariness, and depart in the morning refreshed,’ and Covan listened thankfully to his words, and at dawn he rose up to seek his cows.

The Orange Fairy Book 2003

‘What can these things mean?’ said Covan to himself, as he followed his cows.

The Orange Fairy Book 2003

Then he turned to look for the cows, and found them all lying in the place where he had left them; but when they saw Covan they rose up and walked homewards, taking a different path to that they had trod in the morning.

The Orange Fairy Book 2003

And Covan entered, and supped, and slept, and in the morning rose up a new man.

The Orange Fairy Book 2003