Like Ardan , Ruais chose the large , unblessed cake , and set forth on his way , doing always , though he knew it not , that which Ardan had done ; so , needless is it to tell what befell him till he too stood , a pillar of stone , on the hill behind the cottage , so that all men might see the fate that awaited those who broke their faith . Another year and a day passed by , when Covan the Brown-haired , youngest son of Gorla of the Flocks , one morning spake to his parents , saying : ` It is more than three years since my sister left us . My brothers have also gone , no one know whither , and of us four none remains but I. No , therefore , I long to seek them , and I pray you and my mother to place no hindrance in my way . ' And his father answered : ` Go , then , and take our blessing with you . ' So the wife of Gorla of the Flocks baked two cakes , one large and one small ; and Covan took the small one , and started on his quest . In the wood he felt hungry , for he had walked far , and he sat down to eat . Suddenly a voice behind him cried : ' A bit for me ! a bit for me ! ' And looking round he beheld the black raven of the wilderness . ` Yes , you shall have a bit , ' said Covan the Brown-haired ; and breaking off a piece he stretched it upwards to the raven , who ate it greedily . Then Covan arose and went forward , till he saw the light from the cottage streaming before him , and glad was he , for night was at hand . ` Maybe I shall find some work there , ' he thought , ` and at least I shall gain money to help me in my search ; for who knows how far my sister and my brothers may have wandered ? ' The door stood open and he entered , and the old man gave him welcome , and the golden-haired maiden likewise . As happened before , he was offered by the old man to herd his cows ; and , as she had done to his brothers , the maiden counselled him to leave such work alone . But , instead of answering rudely , like both Ardan and Ruais , he thanked her , with courtesy , though he had no mind to heed her ; and he listened to the warnings and words of his new master . Next day he set forth at dawn with the dun cows in front of him , and followed patiently wherever they might lead him . On the way he saw the gold cock and silver hen , which ran even closer to him than they had done to his brothers . Sorely tempted , he longed to give them chase ; but , remembering in time that he had been bidden to look neither to the right nor to the left , with a mighty effort he turned his eyes away . Then the gold and silver staffs seemed to spring from the earth before him , but this time also he overcame ; and though the fruit from the magic tree almost touched his mouth , he brushed it aside and went steadily on . That day the cows wandered father than ever they had done before , and never stopped till they had reached a moor where the heather was burning .
The fire was fierce , but the cows took no heed , and XXXXX steadily through it , Covan the Brown-haired following them .
ate broke doing followed looking place started upwards walked went