AtthesewordstheheartreturnedagaintoIanDireach,andhegatheredsticksandmadeafireandatewithGilleMairteanthefox,andsleptonthesand。AtdawnnextmorningGilleMairteansaidtoIanDireach:
\'Iwillchangemyselfintoaship,andwillbearyouacrosstheseastoErin,tothelandwheredwellstheking。Andyoushallofferyourselftoserveinhisstable,andtotendhishorses,tillatlengthsowellcontentishe,thathegivesyouthebaycolttowashandbrush。Butwhenyourunawaywithherseethatnoughtexceptthesolesofherhoofstouchanythingwithinthepalacegates,oritwillgoillwithyou。\'
AfterhehadthuscounselledIanDireach,thefoxchangedhimselfintoaship,andsetsailforErin。AndthekingofthatcountrygaveintoIanDireach\'shandsthecareofhishorses,andneverbeforedidtheirskinsshinesobrightlyorwastheirpacesoswift。Andthekingwaswellpleased,andattheendofamonthhesentforIanandsaidtohim:
\'Youhavegivenmefaithfulservice,andnowIwillentrustyouwiththemostpreciousthingthatmykingdomholds。\'Andwhenhehadspoken,heledIanDireachtothestablewherestoodthebaycolt。AndIanrubbedherandfedher,andgallopedwithherallroundthecountry,tillhecouldleaveonewindbehindhimandcatchtheotherwhichwasinfront。
\'Iamgoingawaytohunt,\'saidthekingonemorningwhilehewaswatchingIantendthebaycoltinherstable。\'Thedeerhavecomedownfromthehill,anditistimeformetogivethemchase。\'Thenhewentaway;andwhenhewasnolongerinsight,IanDireachledthebaycoltoutofthestable,andsprangonherback。Butastheyrodethroughthegate,whichstoodbetweenthepalaceandtheouterworld,thecoltswishedhertailagainstthepost,whichshriekedloudly。Inamomentthekingcamerunningup,andheseizedthecolt\'sbridle。