Shamus told his desire and the King of the Gnomes ordered the dog to be brought. It was a tiny creature, and looking at its coat one way its color was gold, and looking at it another way its color was green, and underneath it was a fire red. Around its neck was a silver bell that chimed sweetly as it walked and at the sound of which all sorrow was forgotten. "'Tis a fine dog," said Shamus. "'Tis that." said the King, "and the sound of the bell is sweet, but one thing it will not do. Have you a wife?" said he. "I have not," said Shamus. The King looked at him long with envy in his eyes. "Some are born lucky in this world," said he. "Know that I have a wife whose tongue is like the roar of a waterfall day and night, save now and then when she takes a nap as she is now doing. Her talk drowns out the sound of the silver bell and drives me nearly mad. Make her cease her clatter, and the dog is yours." Just then there was a great noise and out came the Queen, talking thirteen to the dozen. The King clapped his fingers to his ears, and the magic dog put his tail between his legs and crawled under the throne. The King said never a word, but his glance said plain as day, "Isn't it as I said?" So Shamus took his harp and began to play his song of running water. At first he could not make himself heard, but after a while, as he played, the Queen's talk came slower and slower, and softer and softer, and by and by she was speechless. Then Shamus began to walk slowly away, and the Queen followed. On and on he walked until he came to a stream. In the middle was a stone. Around it foamed the white water. Onto the stone leapt Shamus, still playing. The Queen stood on the bank and wrung her hands, and then with a shriek she threw herself in and was swept away in the white water. Shamus leapt back to the bank where stood the King much pleased. "The dog is yours," said he, "and a good bargain I've made. The silence," he said, "will be like honey on the tongue. Now and then," he said, "I'll likely come to the stream and drop in a bit of a stone. It roars louder than it did, don't you think?" And indeed it did so, for the Queen's voice was going still and has never since stopped. Shamus took the little dog under his arm and carried him back to the King of the Little People. "So far so good," said the King. "Next, bring me the magic blackbird who sings so sweetly for the King of the Forest." Off went Shamus again, this time to the forest, where he found the King sitting under an oak tree. "What do you here?" said the King, and Shamus told him.