SIGNS OF HOME.
Soon after they saw a beautiful verdant island, with herds of oxen,
cows, and sheep browsing all over its hills and valleys; but no houses
nor inhabitants were to be seen. And they rested for some time on this
island, and ate the flesh of the cows and sheep.
One day, while they were standing on a hill, a large falcon flew by; and
two of the crew, who happened to look closely at him, cried out, in the
hearing of Maildun--
"See that falcon! he is surely like the falcons of Erin!"
"Watch him closely," cried Maildun; "and observe exactly in what
direction he is flying!"
And they saw that he flew to the south-east, without turning or
wavering.
They went on board at once; and, having unmoored, they sailed to the
south-east after the falcon. After rowing the whole day, they sighted
land in the dusk of the evening, which seemed to them like the land of
Erin.