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She went away from Tara: and in all Ireland and in the world of living men she was not seen again, and she was never heard of again. "I think," said Cairell Whiteskin, "that although judgement was given against Fionn, it was Fionn had the rights of it." "He had eleven hundred killed," said Cona'n amiably, "and you may call that the rights of it if you like."
And at her words, her father ordered a banquet to be made in the palace for Ossian and Dearing, and sent them back to Fionn with a message summoning him to a tryst in a fortnight's time. When Ossian and Dearing were returned into Kildare, they found Fionn and his men, the Fenians, on the hill of Allen, and they told them their tale from the beginning to end.
"She ran towards your appearance that had your arms stretched out to her." At that wise Fionn put his hand before his eyes, seeing all that happened. "Tell on your tale," said he. "She ran to those arms, and when she reached them the figure lifted its hand. It touched her with a hazel rod, and, while we looked, she disappeared, and where she had been there was a fawn standing and shivering.
'We have slain the giant, said they, 'and have brought you the berries, and now we shall have peace for the death of our father. Fionn took the berries into his hand, and stooped down and smelt them. 'I swear, he cried, 'that it was Diarmid O'Dowd who gathered these berries, and full sure I am that it was he who slew the giant.
The fawn turned and bounded towards the gate of the Dun, but the hounds that were by flew after her." Fionn stared on him like a lost man. "They took her by the throat " the shivering servant whispered. "Ah!" cried Fionn in a terrible voice. "And they dragged her back to the figure that seemed to be Fionn.
Fionn sat in the Chief Captain's seat in the middle of the fort; and facing him, in the place of honour, he placed the mirthful Goll mac Morna; and from these, ranging on either side, the nobles of the Fianna took each the place that fitted his degree and patrimony.
But Fionn's eye was the eye of a wild creature that spies on darkness and moves there wittingly. He saw, then, not a thing but a movement; something that was darker than the darkness it loomed on; not a being but a presence, and, as it were, impending pressure. And in a little he heard the deliberate pace of that great being. Fionn bent to his spear and unloosed its coverings.
"I am sure you will not," the other murmured, as he turned and walked slowly across the grass and behind the sheltering bushes on the ridge. Fionn cooked the salmon. It was beautiful and tempting and savoury as it smoked on a wooden platter among cool green leaves; and it looked all these to Finegas when he came from behind the fringing bushes and sat in the grass outside his door.
"I would be contented if I could not see them at all," his companion grumbled. But the Chief insisted. "I want to make sure that it is whiskers they are wearing." "Let them wear whiskers or not wear them," Cona'n counselled. "But let us have nothing to do with them." "One must not be frightened of anything," Fionn stated. "I am not frightened," Cona'n explained.
Cael of the Iron came also on the scene, and he examined the stranger with close and particular attention. "What in the name of the devil is this thing?" he asked of Fionn. "Dear heart," said Fionn, "this is the champion I am putting against you in the race." Cael of the Iron grew purple in the face, and he almost swallowed his tongue through wrath.
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