o present
and to absent.

XXVI. HOW CIARAN FREED A WOMAN FROM SERVITUDE

5. One day he made his way to a king, Tuathlus by name, to intercede
for the liberation of a certain bond-maid. When he besought the king
fervently for her, and _he_ rejected the prayers of the servant of God
as though they were ravings, he thought out a new method of liberating
her, and determined that he himself should serve the king in her
place. Now when he was coming to the house in which the girl was
grinding, the doors which were shut opened to him. Entering, he showed
himself a second Bishop Paulinus to her. Without delay the king
freed her, and further presented his vesture to the servant of God.
Receiving this, he forthwith distributed it to the poor.

XXIV. THE STORY OF THE MILL AND THE BAILIFF'S DAUGHTER _(abstract
only)_

6. It fell out one night that the eminent doctor Finnianus sent him
with grain of wheat to the mill. Now a certain kingling who lived
near, learning that one of the disciples of the man of God had come
thither, sent him flesh and ale by a servant. When they had presented
the gift of such a man, he answered, "That it may be common," said he,
"to the brethren, cast it all on the surface of the mill." When the
messenger had done this, it was all turned into wheat. When he heard
this, the king gave him the steading in which he was dwelling, with
all his goods, in perpetuity: but Keranus made it over to his master,
for a monastery was afterwards erected there. But the bread made
of that grain tasted to the brethren like flesh and ale, and so it
refreshed them.

XXX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ROBBERS OF LOCH ERNE

7. Now when a space of time had passed, the licence and benediction of
his master having been obtained, he made his way to Saint Nynnidus who
was dwelling in a wood _(sic)_ of Loch Erny. Now when he had arrived
he was received with great joy and unfeigned love. As he was daily
becoming perfect in the discipline of manners and of virtue, on a
certain day, as one truly obedient, he went forth to the groves hard
by with brethren to cut timber. For it was a custom in that sacred
college, that three monks, with an elder, always went out in
prescribed order to transport timber. As the others were cutting wood,
he by himself, as was his wont, was intent on prayer to God. Meanwhile
certain wicked robbers, ferried over in a boat to that island, fell
upon the aforesaid brethren and slew them, and bore away their he