A few years after the death of Dermot the old trouble between the High
King of Tara and the Fenians arose again. Cormack was dead, but his son
was even more bitter against the army. He made up his mind that he would
destroy the forces entirely.
The new ruler realized that he could never raise a sufficient force to
meet the Fenians in battle. He determined upon a less dangerous, though
less honorable, method. He endeavored to promote a quarrel between two
factions, so that the groups would destroy themselves. The High King,
you see, was a man of wisdom.
This plan was an easy one to accomplish. You have not forgotten that
Gaul of Morna had held the leadership of the Fenians for the ten years
between the death of Cool and the arrival of Finn. He had been loyal to
Finn all through the later years, but beneath his loyalty ran a thin
current of envy. He was the older man of the two. It was easy to tell
him that, because of his age, he should be chief. Envy is a poison that
works silently, but it works harder when it is thought about. The High
King gradually convinced Gaul that it would be to his interest to
quarrel with Finn and take part of the army with him.
Finn’s treatment of Dermot shows us that he became more revengeful in
his later years. He did not take part in so many adventures requiring
him to use his strength, so he had more time to think over what people
had done to him. He never forgot that it was Gaul who had given his
father his mortal wound. As long as Gaul was his faithful follower, he
did not hold this fact against him. But when Gaul began to grow bitter
in his dealings with his chief, Finn made the quarreling easy by
recalling this fight. Both men were willing to come to blows.
The High King went with Gaul through the ranks of the Fenians and, by
promises and bribes, won over a large number. The fact that the High
King was on the side of Gaul made it appear to these men that those who
were disloyal to Finn would probably be on the winning side. In the end,
the two forces were about equal. Then the High King and Gaul moved to
attack the forces of Finn.
Finn was sick at heart at the thought that his splendid army was to be
cut to pieces by the treacherous plot of the High King. He would gladly
have given up his command if that act would have saved the men from
fighting among themselves. His knowledge, however, told him that it was
the plan of the High King to get the two groups to so weaken themselves
that he could gather a force large enough to defeat those left. Finn
knew what Gaul did not understand, that he was to be used and later put
out of the way.
The forces of Gaul met those of Finn at Gowra, just at evening. In those
days no one thought of fighting at night. The two forces built their
camps and waited for morning light to give the signal for the combat.
All through the early hours of the night Finn paced his camp and tried
to make a plan which would stop the struggle of the next day. If the
High King had not been on the side of Gaul, he felt that the trouble
would never have occurred. At midnight he left his own camp and went,
alone, to the quarters of Gaul and the High King.
These two men were greatly alarmed to wake and find Finn beside them.
Both sprang to their feet and seized their weapons. They thought that
Finn meant to do away with them by treachery.
“Have no fear,” said Finn. “I have come by myself, and my purpose is to
talk, not fight. I have come to see if there is not some way in which we
can stop the slaughter of the men of Erin.”
Both men were silent. Finally Gaul spoke, “There is one way,” he said.
“You may give up the leadership and tell your men to obey me.”
Finn turned to the High King. “If that will stop the struggle, then I
will accept the terms.”
The crafty High King was not pleased. A peace which would leave the
Fenians as strong as ever was the last thing he wanted. He pretended to
doubt Finn’s word.
“It is but a trick,” he said to Gaul. “Finn would have us believe that
he wants peace, so that he may attack us unawares. Tomorrow’s contest
shall decide all things which are at stake.”
“Then I make one other proposition to you,” said Finn, addressing the
High King. “I will meet you in single combat tomorrow morning. If you
best me, you will have a clear field to take my men as your followers.
If I prove the better fighter, Gaul and I will be left to decide the
leadership.”
The High King had been whispering to some of his men near him. These
went out into the darkness before he replied to the challenge.
“I refuse your challenge,” he said, with an attempt to cover his fear
with haughtiness. “It would not be fitting that an army leader should
meet his king in a single combat.”
“Then I can do no more,” declared Finn. “I must go back and leave the
decision to the morrow.”
The High King laughed excitedly. “That you shall not do,” he said. “Our
men have been awakened and are between you and your camp. Tonight they
will settle your claims for leadership; tomorrow your men will fight
without you.”
Finn looked at the forces, now awake and surrounding him. It was the
basest kind of treachery. He turned to Gaul of Morna.
“Gaul, you took the vow to be honorable in your dealings. Are you
willing that I shall face your army, when I came in peace as a
messenger? Are you a party to this treachery?”
“I am not!” cried Gaul. “Never shall it be said that Gaul of Morna knew
not how to treat a messenger of the foe. I shall conduct you through our
forces, and woe to any man who raises a spear against you!”
“I thank you, Gaul,” said Finn.
Without even glancing at the High King, Finn followed Gaul out into the
night. His guide escorted him to the edge of his own camp before turning
to go back. Finn made a last appeal to him.
“It grieves me, Gaul, to see this battle take place. I know that the
High King but uses you to cause the destruction of the Fenians. I pray
you, give up the struggle and come back to us.”
Gaul was deeply moved. “I fear you are right,” he said. “But, right or
wrong, I must go on. I have driven my game out into the open. I must
capture it or lose the respect of my men.”
Then Gaul went back to his camp.