But Colum rose, and took a scourge from where it hung on the wall. "It
shall be for peace, Oran," he said, with a grim smile flitting like a
bird above the nest of his black beard; "it shall be for peace, Keir!"
And with that he laid the scourge heavily upon the bent backs of Keir
and Oran, nor stayed his hand, nor let his three days' fast weaken the
deep piety that was in the might of his arm, and because of the glory
to God.
Then, when he was weary, peace came into his heart, and he sighed
"_Amen!_"
"Amen!" said Oran the monk.
"Amen!" said Keir the monk.
"And this thing hath been done," said Colum, "because of the evil wish
of you and the brethren, that I should break my fast, and eat of fish,
till God willeth it. And lo, I have learned a mystery. Ye shall all
witness to it on the morrow, which is the Sabbath."
That night the monks wondered much. Only Oran and Keir cursed the
fishes in the deeps of the sea and the flies in the deeps of the air.
On the morrow, when the sun was yellow on the brown sea-weed, and
there was peace on the isle and upon the waters, Colum and the
brotherhood went slowly towards the sea.
At the meadows that are close to the sea, the Saint stood still. All
bowed their heads.
"O winged things of the air," cried Colum, "draw near!"
With that the air was full of the hum of innumerous flies, midges,
bees, wasps, moths, and all winged insects. These settled upon the
monks, who moved not, but praised God in silence. "Glory and praise to
God," cried Colum, "behold the Sabbath of the children of God that
inhabit the deeps of the air! Blessing and peace be upon them."
"Peace! Peace!" cried the monks, with one voice.
"In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost!" cried Colum
the White, glad because of the glory to God.
"_An ainm an Athar, 's an Mhic, 's an Spioraid Naoimh_," cried the
monks, bowing reverently, and Oran and Keir deepest of all, because
they saw the fly that was of Colum's cell leading the whole host, as
though it were their captain, and singing to them a marvellous sweet
song.
Oran and Keir testified to this thing, and all were full of awe and
wonder, and Colum praised God.
Then the Saints and the brotherhood moved onward and went upon the
rocks. When all stood ankle-deep in the sea-weed that was swaying in
the tide, Colum cried:
"O finny creatures of the deep, draw near!"
And with that the whole sea shimmered as with silver and gold.
All the fishes of the sea, and the great eels, and the lobsters and
the crabs, came in a swift and terrible procession. Great was the
glory.