THE AGED HERMIT, AND THE HUMAN SOULS.
At a little distance from this they found another small island, with
many trees on it, some standing singly, and some in clusters, on which
were perched great numbers of birds. They also saw an aged man on the
island, who was covered thickly all over with long, white hair, and wore
no other dress. And when they landed, they spoke to him, and asked him
who he was and what race he belonged to.
"I am one of the men of Erin," he replied. "On a certain day, a long,
long time ago, I embarked in a small curragh, and put out to sea on a
pilgrimage; but I had got only a little way from shore, when my curragh
became very unsteady, as if it were about to overturn. So I returned to
land, and, in order to steady my boat, I placed under my feet at the
bottom, a number of green surface sods, cut from one of the grassy
fields of my own country, and began my voyage anew. Under the guidance
of God, I arrived at this spot; and He fixed the sods in the sea for me,
so that they formed a little island. At first I had barely room to
stand; but every year, from that time to the present, the Lord has added
one foot to the length and breadth of my island, till in the long lapse
of ages it has grown to its present size. And on one day in each year,
He has caused a single tree to spring up, till the island has become
covered with trees. Moreover, I am so old that my body, as you see, has
become covered with long, white hair, so that I need no other dress.
"And the birds that ye see on the trees," he continued, "these are the
souls of my children, and of all my descendants, both men and women, who
are sent to this little island to abide with me according as they die in
Erin. God has caused a well of ale to spring up for us on the island:
and every morning the angels bring me half a cake, a slice of fish, and
a cup of ale from the well; and in the evening the same allowance of
food and ale is dealt out to each man and woman of my people. And it is
in this manner that we live, and shall continue to live till the end of
the world; for we are all awaiting here the day of judgment."
Maildun and his companions were treated hospitably on the island by the
old pilgrim for three days and three nights; and when they were taking
leave of him, he told them that they should all reach their own country
except one man.