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"Terrible indeed. No one can get near him or away from him. He comes out of the Shi' playing sweet, low music on a timpan and a pipe, and all who hear this music fall asleep." "I will not fall asleep," said Fionn. "You will indeed, for everybody does." "What happens then?" Fionn asked.
Then the young heroes grew merry and audacious, the ladies became gentle and kind, and the poets became wonders of knowledge and prophecy. Every eye beamed in that assembly, and on Fionn every eye was turned continually in the hope of a glance from the great, mild hero. Goll spoke to him across the table enthusiastically. "There is nothing wanting to this banquet, O Chief," said he.
At night he sleeps on the top of the tree, and by day watches at the foot. Around him is a wilderness, and the Fenians dare not hunt there, for fear of that terrible one. These are the berries which Fionn asks of you. But Aod, the son of Andala, spoke and declared that he would rather die seeking those berries than return to his own land with his head bowed in shame.
And Fionn trembled when he heard those words, and brought back the water, but as he came to his side the life went out of Diarmid. And the company of the Fenians raised three exceeding great cries; while Oscar looked fiercely at Fionn, and told him it had been better for the Fenians had Fionn himself died, and not Diarmid.
At that Fionn and his Fenians departed, and wandered far before they could hear news of Diarmid. On the road that led to the county of Galway, Fionn saw fifty stout warriors coming towards him.
When he had finished Fionn and Oisi'n and Oscar and mac Lugac of the Terrible Hand gave him rare and costly presents, so that every person wondered at their munificence, and even the poet, accustomed to the liberality of kings and princes, was astonished at his gifts.
When he heard this, Fionn bade his men surround Diarmid and take him, and Diarmid rose up and kissed Grania three times in presence of Fionn and his men, and Fionn, seeing that, swore that Diarmid should pay for those kisses with his head.
"It is the more wonderful," he continued gently, "for I should know every person that is here. What do you require from me?" "I beg your protection, royal captain." "I give that to all," he answered. "Against whom do you desire protection?" "I am in terror of the Fear Doirche." "The Dark Man of the Shi?" "He is my enemy," she said. "He is mine now," said Fionn. "Tell me your story."
That he was versed in magic is true, for he was ever known as the Knowledgeable man, and later he had two magicians in his household named Dirim and mac-Reith to do the rough work of knowledge for their busy master. It was not from the Shi', however, that assistance came to Fionn.
Fionn sat at the kindly man's feet, his hands absent among tall grasses, and listening with all his ears. "A prophecy was made to me," Finegas began. "A man of knowledge foretold that I should catch the Salmon of Knowledge in the Boyne Water." "And then?" said Fionn eagerly. "Then I would have All Knowledge." "And after that?" the boy insisted.
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