On the morning of the next day Morraha rose, and took another horse from the stable, and went again to the door of Niall, and knocked and demanded news of the death of Anshgayliacht and the sword of light, and applied the spurs to the horse and away with him. Niall followed, and as Morraha was passing, the gate cut the horse in two and took half the saddle with him; but his wife met him and threw flesh in his eyes and blinded him. On the third day, Morraha went again to the door of Niall; and Niall followed him, and as he was passing the gate, cut away the saddle from under him and the clothes from his back. Then his wife said to Niall: "The fool that's mocking you, is out yonder in the little currach, going home; and take good heed to yourself, and don't sleep one wink for three days." For three days the little currach kept in sight, but then Niall's wife came to him and said: "Sleep as much as you want now. He is gone." He went to sleep, and there was heavy sleep on him, and Morraha went in and took hold of the sword that was on the bed at his head. And the sword thought to draw itself out of the hand of Morraha; but it failed. Then it gave a cry, and it wakened Niall, and Niall said it was a rude and rough thing to come into his house like that; and said Morraha to him: "Leave your much talking, or I will cut the head off you. Tell me the news of the death of Anshgayliacht." "Oh, you can have my head." "But your head is no good to me; tell me the story." "Oh," said Niall's wife, "you must get the story." "Well," said Niall, "let us sit down together till I tell the story. I thought no one would ever get it; but now it will be heard by all." THE STORY. When I was growing up, my mother taught me the language of the birds; and when I got married, I used to be listening to their conversation; and I would be laughing; and my wife would be asking me what was the reason of my laughing, but I did not like to tell her, as women are always asking questions. We went out walking one fine morning, and the birds were arguing with one another. One of them said to another: "Why should you be comparing yourself with me, when there is not a king nor knight that does not come to look at my tree?" "What advantage has your tree over mine, on which there are three rods of magic mastery growing?" When I heard them arguing, and knew that the rods were there, I began to laugh. "Oh," asked my wife, "why are you always laughing? I believe it is at myself you are jesting, and I'll walk with you no more." "Oh, it is not about you I am laughing. It is because I understand the language of the birds."