She drew them back to the shore; this happened thrice,and the men accused Maelduin of catching the rope on purpose; he badeanother man catch it, and his companions cut off his hand, and theyescaped at last.On one island the seafarers found three magic apples, and each apple gavesufficient food for forty nights; again, on another island, they found thesame apples. In another place still, a great bird like a cloud arrived,with a tree larger than an oak in its claws. After a while two eagles cameand cleaned the feathers of the larger bird. They also stripped off thered berries from the tree and threw them into the ocean until its foamgrew red. The great bird then flew into the ocean and cleaned itself. Thishappened daily for three days, when the great bird flew away with strongerwings, its youth being thus renewed.They came to another island where many people stood by the shore talkingand joking. They were all looking at Maelduin and his comrades, and keptgaping and laughing, but would not exchange a word with them. ThenMaelduin sent one of his foster brothers on the island; but he rangedhimself with the others and did as they did. Maelduin and his men rowedround and round the island, and whenever they passed the point where thiscomrade was, they addressed him, but he never answered, and only gaped andlaughed.
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