“Well, when that’s done I shall think the wager has been paid,” said the King of Ireland’s son. He mounted his horse, smiling at the foolish old man who played cards with himself and who thought he could bring together fifty white kine, each with a red ear, and a white calf by the side of each cow. He rode away
His hound at his heel,
His hawk on his wrist;
A brave steed to carry him whither he list,
And the green ground under him,
and he thought no more of the gray old fellow.
But in the morning, when he was taking his horse out of the stable, he heard the grooms talking about a strange happening. Art, the King’s Steward, had gone out and had found the field at the back of the Castle filled with cattle. There were fifty white red-eared kine there and each cow had a white calf at her side. The King had ordered Art, his Steward, to drive them away. The King of Ireland’s Son watched Art and his men trying to do it. But no sooner were the strange cattle put out at one side of the field than they came back on the other. Then down came Maravaun, the King’s Councillor. He declared they were enchanted cattle, and that no one on Ireland’s ground could put them away. So in the seven-acre field the cattle stayed.
When the King of Ireland’s Son saw what his companion of yesterday could do he rode straight to the glen to try if he could have another game with him. There at the turn of the road, on a heap of stones, the gray old fellow was sitting playing a game of cards, the right hand against the left. The King of Ireland’s Son fastened his horse to the branch of a tree and dismounted.
“Did you find yesterday’s wager settled?” said the gray old fellow.
“I did,” said the King of Ireland’s Son.
“Then shall we have another game of cards on the same understanding?” said the gray old fellow.
“I agree, if you agree,” said the King of Ireland’s son. He sat under the bush beside him and they played again. The King of Ireland’s Son won.
“What would you like me to do for you this time?” said the gray old fellow.