THE PALACE OF THE LITTLE CAT.
After rowing for a long time, their store of apples failed them, and
they had nothing to eat or drink; so that they suffered sorely under a
hot sun, and their mouths and nostrils were filled with the briny smell
of the sea. At last they came in sight of land--a little island with a
large palace on it. Around the palace was a wall, white all over,
without stain or flaw, as if it had been built of burnt lime, or carved
out of one unbroken rock of chalk; and where it looked towards the sea
it was so lofty that it seemed almost to reach the clouds.
The gate of this outer wall was open, and a number of fine houses, all
snowy white, were ranged round on the inside, enclosing a level court in
the middle, on which all the houses opened. Maildun and his people
entered the largest of them, and walked through several rooms without
meeting with any one. But on reaching the principal apartment, they saw
in it a small cat, playing among a number of low, square, marble
pillars, which stood ranged in a row; and his play was, leaping
continually from the top of one pillar to the top of another. When the
men entered the room, the cat looked at them for a moment, but returned
to his play anon, and took no further notice of them.
Looking now to the room itself, they saw three rows of precious jewels
ranged round the wall from one door-jamb to the other. The first was a
row of brooches of gold and silver, with their pins fixed in the wall,
and their heads outwards; the second, a row of torques of gold and
silver; and the third, a row of great swords, with hilts of gold and
silver.
Round the room were arranged a number of couches, all pure white and
richly ornamented. Abundant food of various kinds was spread on tables,
among which they observed a boiled ox and a roast hog; and there were
many large drinking-horns, full of good, intoxicating ale.
"Is it for us that this food has been prepared?" said Maildun to the
cat.
The cat, on hearing the question, ceased from playing, and looked at
him; but he recommenced his play immediately. Whereupon Maildun told his
people that the dinner was meant for them; and they all sat down, and
ate and drank till they were satisfied, after which they rested and
slept on the couches.
When they awoke, they poured what was left of the ale into one vessel;
and they gathered the remnants of the food to bring them away. As they
were about to go, Maildun's eldest foster brother asked him--
"Shall I bring one of those large torques away with me?"
"By no means," said Maildun; "it is well that we have got food and
rest. Bring nothing away, for it is certain that this house is not left
without some one to guard it."
The young man, however, disregarding Maildun's advice, took down one of
the torques and brought it away. But the cat followed him, and overtook
him in the middle of the court, and, springing on him like a blazing,
fiery arrow, he went through his body, and reduced it in a moment to a
heap of ashes. He then returned to the room, and, leaping up on one of
the pillars, sat upon it.
Maildun turned back, bringing the torque with him, and, approaching the
cat, spoke some soothing words; after which he put the torque back to
the place from which it had been taken. Having done this, he collected
the ashes of his foster brother, and, bringing them to the shore, cast
them into the sea. They all then went on board the curragh, and
continued their voyage, grieving for their lost companion, but thanking
God for His many mercies to them.