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And there was not a man but quailed as the hero rushed upon the Ultonians and slew a thousand men. When Concobar heard this, he sent for that Wise Man who in the house of Felim the Harper had foretold the sorrow that would come upon his realm. And when the old man had come, Concobar said, 'I swear that I mean no harm unto the sons of Usna, yet will they slay every Ultonian in the land.
And the bond was signed, and for three years the sons of Usna dwelt in peace and great joy. In the north they rested while yet the mountain-sides were aglow with the purple and gold of heather and bracken, but ever before the first frosts came would they sail south to the land that the brave Usna had ruled, where now they could dwell in safety and in peace.
Northward they sailed, through narrow sea-lochs, until they reached the mountains that had been the childhood's home of their dead mother. On the summit of a high hill stood the castle where she had once dwelt. Now it was forsaken of all save wandering shepherds and nesting birds, and here, in all the glory of spring, did the sons of Usna make their home.
Therefore I would that thou wouldst help me by thy magic power. And the Wise Man believed the words of Concobar, and he caused a hedge of spears to encircle the burning House. And as the flames rose higher the sons of Usna came forth with Deirdre the Star-eyed. And around her they placed their shields, and they cleft a way through the Hedge of Spears and came safely to the plain beyond.
"The abduction of the Beautiful Woman by Naysi, son of Usna.
Then Lavarcam hastened to the King and told him how that the sons of Usna had come to Erin to live peaceably, but how that the beauty of Deirdre had faded until she was no longer fairest among women. Then was Concobar wroth, and he sent yet another messenger. To this man he said, 'Who was it that slew thy father and thy brother? 'Nathos, son of Usna, O King!
So Angus threw back his hood, and Nathos saw that Deirdre's lips grew white, as she said, 'Not to-morrow, Angus; but on the morn that follows, if thou wilt come again, then shalt thou lead us to thy high-walled castle. This day have we travelled far and would fain rest. But Angus turned him again to the sons of Usna and pleaded that they should linger no longer in the isle.
So the Clan Usna with their mighty men stormed the dun and bore off Deirdre and went away eastward to the Muirnicht. Great, famous, and long remembered were the deeds of the children of Usna in that land. "Each spake words of high disdain And insult to his heart's best brother, They parted ne'er to meet again."
Yet the son of Usna was by no means dismayed, only he flushed with wrath and scorn and he drew his sword and went on against the phantoms. In truth Naysi was at that moment passing through the zone of terror which the Ultonian Druids had shed around the dun where Deirdre was immured. The phantoms gave way before him and Naysi passed beyond the zone.
One convulsion of this kind happened above Usna Hill, with a long, terrifying roar and a monstrous gush of flame. "What is that?" asked some one. "It must be the mine we charged at La Boisselle. The biggest that has ever been." It was a good guess.
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