ake, without paying the price, the three
Cormorants of the Western Seas would pick the flesh off his bones. He
knew not what to do, and was about to turn away, when he heard once
more the twang of the golden harp, and the little fairy of the hills
stood before him.

"Faint heart never won fair lady," said the little harper. "Are you
ready to pay the price? The spear and shield are on the opposite
bank, and the Princess Finola is crying this moment in the lonely
moor."

At the mention of Finola's name the dwarf's heart grew strong.

"Yes," he said; "I am ready--win or die. What is the price?"

"Your left eye," said the fairy. And as soon as said he scooped out
the eye, and put it in his pocket.

The poor blind dwarf almost fainted with pain.

"It's your last trial," said the fairy, "and now do what I tell you.
Twist your horse's mane round your right hand, and I will lead him to
the water. Plunge in, and fear not. I gave you back your speech. When
you reach the opposite bank you will get back your memory, and you
will know who and what you are."

Then the fairy led the horse to the margin of the lake.

"In with you now, and good luck go with you," said the fairy.

The dwarf urged the horse. He plunged into the lake, and went down and
down until his feet struck the bottom. Then he began to ascend, and as
he came near the surface of the water the dwarf thought he saw a
glimmering light, and when he rose above the water he saw the bright
sun shining and the green hills before him, and he shouted with joy
at finding his sight restored.

But he saw more. Instead of the old horse he had ridden into the lake
he was bestride a noble steed, and as the steed swam to the bank the
dwarf felt a change coming over himself, and an unknown vigour in his
limbs.

When the steed touched the shore he galloped up the hillside, and on
the top of the hill was a silver shield, bright as the sun, resting
against a spear standing upright in the ground.

The dwarf jumped off, and, running towards the shield, he saw himself
as in a looking-glass.

He was no longer a dwarf, but a gallant knight. At that moment his
memory came back to him, and he knew he was Conal, one of the Knights
of the Red Branch, and he remembered now that the spell of dumbness
and deformity had been cast upon him by the Witch of the Palace of the
Quicken Trees.

Slinging his shield upon his left arm, he plucked the spear from the
ground and leaped on to his