A deer starting from a thicket reminded him of the happy days of his
boyhood, and once more the wish came back to him that he had never
left his forest home. As his eyes followed the deer wistfully,
suddenly he started in amazement. The deer vanished from view, and in
his stead was the wild horse of the mountains.
"I told you I'd do you a good turn," said the Pooka, "for the
kindness you and yours did me on that wild winter's night. The day is
passing. You have no time to lose. The white steed of the plains is
coming to the starting-post. Jump on my back, and remember, 'Faint
heart never won fair lady.'"
In half a second Fergus was bestride the Pooka, whose coat of shaggy
hair became at once as glossy as silk, and just at the very moment
when the king was about to declare there was no steed to compete with
the white steed of the plains, the Pooka with Fergus upon his back,
galloped up in front of the royal enclosure. When the people saw the
champion a thunderous shout rose up that startled the birds in the
skies, and sent them flying to the groves.
And in the ladies' enclosure was a rustle of many-coloured scarves
waving in the air. At the striking of the shields the contending
steeds rushed from the post with the swiftness of a swallow's flight.
But before the white steed of the plains had gone half-way round,
Fergus and the wild horse of the mountains had passed the winning
post, greeted by such cheers as had never before been heard on the
plains of Tara.
Fergus heard the cheers, but scarcely heeded them, for his heart went
out through his eyes that were fastened on the princess, and a wild
hope stirred him that his glance was not ungrateful to the loveliest
lady of the land.
And the princess was sad and sorry for her vow, for she believed that
it was beyond the power of Fergus to bring her a robe of all the
colours of the rainbow, so subtly woven as to fit in the palm of her
soft, white hand.
That night also Fergus went to the forest, not too sad, because there
was a vague hope in his heart that had never been there before. He lay
down under the branches, with his feet towards the rustling waters,
and the smiles of the princess gilded his slumbers, as the rays of the
rising sun gild the glades of the forest; and when the morning came he
was scarcely surprised when before him appeared the little old woman
with the shuttle he had welcomed on the winter's night.
"You think you have won her already,"
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