sun be set, for well I know that Dermat is among the branches. Bring
hither a chess-board that I may play.'
And Finn sat down to play against Oisin his son, but there were with Oisin
three nobles to help him, while Finn played without aid.
With care and with skill did they play, until at length Finn said to his
son, 'I see one move, Oisin, that would win thee the game, yet is there
none of thine helpers that can show thee how thou mayest win.'
Then Dermat, who had watched the game from among the branches overhead,
spoke aloud to himself the move that should be played.
And Grania sat by her husband ill at ease. 'It matters not, Dermat,' she
said, 'whether Oisin win or lose the game, but if thou speakest so that
they hear, it may cost thee thy life.'
Yet did Dermat pay no heed to the counsel of Grania, but plucked a berry,
and with it took aim so true that he hit the chessman that Oisin should
move.
And Oisin moved the man and won the game.
Yet again did Finn play against Oisin and his friends, and once more had
Oisin to make but one move to win the game.
Then did Dermat throw down a berry as before and it struck the right man.
And Oisin moved the piece and won the game.
A third time did Oisin, son of Finn, play against his father, and it fell
as before, for once more he won with Dermat's aid. And this time the
nobles raised a mighty cheer.
But Finn said, 'No marvel is it, Oisin, that thou hast won the game, for
of a surety thou hast had the aid of Dermat who dwelleth amid the branches
of the quicken-tree.' And looking up he said, 'Have I not, Dermat, spoken
truth?'
'I have never known thy judgment err, O King,' replied Dermat. 'In truth I
dwell here with Grania in the hut that was built by Sharvan the giant.'
And they looked up, and through an opening in the branches they beheld
Dermat kiss Grania three times, for the Princess was in great fear.
Then was Finn exceeding wroth, and he bade his men surround the tree, each
holding the hand of each so that Dermat might by no means escape. And he
offered great reward to any man that would go up into the tree and bring
to him the hero's head or force him to come down.
One of Finn's men then spake: 'It was Dermat's father that slew my father,
therefore will I go up into the tree.' And he went up.
Now it was revealed to Angus of Bruga that Dermat was in sore plight, and
on the wings of the wind he came to his aid, unseen of Finn or his chiefs.
So when the avenger climbed into the tree, Angus was there. And when
Dermat with a stroke of his foot flung his enemy to the ground, Angus
caused him to take the shape of Dermat, and for this reason Finn's men
fell upon him and slew him.
But no sooner was he slain than he again took his own shape, and Finn knew
that Dermat was still alive in the quicken-tree. Then nine times did a man
of Finn's army climb the tree, and nine times was he thrown to earth and
killed by his own friends. For each time did Angus cause the warrior to
take Dermat's shape.
When Finn saw nine of his men lie dead before him his heart failed him,
and his soul was filled with bitterness.
At this time Angus said that he would take Grania away with him. And
Dermat was content and said, 'If it be that I live until evening I will
follow thee, but if Finn killeth me, I pray thee send the Princess to her
father at Tara.'
So Angus flung his magic mantle around Grania, and on the wings of the
wind they were carried to Bruga, unknown to Finn or his men.
Then Dermat spake from the tree: 'Thou surely shalt not escape my
vengeance, O Finn, nor shalt thou easily compass my death. Oft have I
cleared the way for thee when thou didst go forth to battle, and oft have
I sheltered thy retreat when thou didst quit the field. Yet art thou
unmindful of mine help, and I swear that I will be avenged.'
When the hero ceased from speaking, one of Finn's nobles said, 'Dermat
speaketh truth, now therefore grant him thy forgiveness.'
But Finn answered, 'I will not to the end of my life grant him
forgiveness, nor shall he know rest or peace until he yieldeth to me his
head.'
Again the noble spake: 'Now pledge I thee the word of a true warrior that,
unless the skies fall upon me or the earth open and swallow me up, no harm
shall come nigh Dermat, for under my care I take his body and his life.'
And looking up, the noble cried, 'O Dermat, I pledge thee my body and my
life that no ill shall befall thee this day, therefore come down out of
the tree.'
Then Dermat rose and stood upon a high bough. With an airy, bird-like
bound he sprang forward and alighted outside the circle formed by the men
who had joined hands, and was soon far beyond the reach of Finn.
And the noble who saved him followed, and they came together to Bruga, and
there Angus and Grania met them, and the joy of the Princess cannot be
told.
Yet was it not long ere Dermat was again in sore strait, for Finn followed
him to Bruga, and with Finn came his old nurse. And she was a witch.
Now it chanced on the day that they came thither that Dermat hunted alone
in the wood. And the witch flew on the leaf of a yellow water-lily till
she came straight over the place where Dermat was. Then through a hole in
the leaf she aimed deadly darts at the hero, and though he was clad in
strong armour they did him great hurt.
So sore were his wounds that Dermat thought the witch would cause his
death on the spot, unless he could pierce her through the hole in the
leaf.
Therefore he took his red javelin and cast it with all care. And so sure
was his aim that it reached the witch through the leaf, and she fell to
the ground dead. Then Dermat cut off her head and took it to Angus.
Early on the morrow Angus rose and went where Finn was, and he asked him
if he would make peace with Dermat.
And Finn, because he had now lost his witch-nurse as well as many men, was
glad to make peace in whatever way Dermat might choose.
Then Angus went to Cormac, and he too was glad to make peace with the
hero.
But when Angus came to Dermat he said he would not make peace unless he
received from Finn and from Cormac all the wide lands that he asked.
And Cormac and Finn gave him the lands, and forgave him all he had done.
Then was there at last peace between them, and Dermat and Grania built a
house in Sligo, far from Cormac and Finn, and they called the name of
their house Rath-Grania. And there were born unto them one daughter and
four sons.
And it was said that there was not living in Erin a man richer than Dermat
in gold and silver, in sheep and cattle herds.
* * * * *
Now it fell on a day after many years that Grania sat as one in a dream.
And Dermat asked his wife in what troublous thought she was lost, for he
saw well that she was ill at ease.
And Grania answered, 'It seemeth not well to me that, having so great
wealth, we live removed from the world, and welcome to our home neither my
father nor Finn, though with both are we now at peace.'
Dermat gave heed to the words of his wife and then spake thus: 'Of a truth
there is peace betwixt us, but thou knowest well that neither thy father
the King nor yet Finn bears me aught but ill-will, and for this cause have
we dwelt apart.'
'Yet will time have softened their hearts,' replied Grania, 'and wouldst
thou but make them a feast, so mightest thou win their favour and their
love.'
And Dermat, because of the love he bore Grania, granted her wish, and for
a year they were making ready for the great feast.
Then were messengers sent to bid thither Cormac and Finn. And they came,
and with them their nobles, their horses and their dogs, and for a full
year they hunted and feasted at Rath-Grania.
When a year had passed, it chanced one night that the distant yelping of a
hound woke Dermat from his sleep, and Grania too awoke and in great fear
said, 'Of a truth doth that sound forebode ill. Heed it not, but lie down
on thy bed and rest.'
Dermat lay down, but ere long he again heard the hound's voice. Then he
started up, and made as though he would go to find for himself wherefore
the hound disturbed the silence of the night. But again Grania begged him
to lie down and to give no heed to the matter.
So Dermat lay down and fell into a light sleep, and when the hound
awakened him the third time it was broad day. And Grania, seeing that his
mind was set, did not beg him longer to stay, yet, fearing danger, she
begged him to take with him his red javelin and his sword named 'The
Greater Fury.'
But Dermat, deeming the matter light, took with him his yellow javelin and
his sword 'The Lesser Fury,' and leading his faithful hound by the chain,
went forth. And he did not rest till he came to the summit of a hill where
he found Finn, and of him he asked the meaning of the chase.
And Finn answered that the men and hounds were tracking a wild boar which
had ofttimes been chased, but had always escaped. Even now was it coming
towards them, so it were well that they should betake themselves to some
safer spot.
Dermat knew no fear of the wild boar, and he would not leave the summit of
the hill where he stood. Yet did he pray Finn to leave with him his hound
Bran, that it might help his own dog were he in need.
But Finn would not leave Bran to be torn by the wild boar that could now
be seen coming towards them.
So Dermat stood alone on the summit of the hill, and he knew well it was
that he might meet his death that Finn's men did hunt the boar this day.
Yet would he not leave the hill, for if it were his fate to meet death,
nought could save him from his doom.
Then as the boar came rushing up the face of the hill, Dermat let loose
his good hound, but it, seeing the fearful monster, fled before him.
And now Dermat knew that he would have need of his red javelin, and he
sorrowed that he had given no heed to the counsel of Grania. Yet seizing
his yellow javelin he cast it with careful aim and it struck the boar in
its forehead. But it fell harmless to the ground, doing the monster no
hurt.
Then Dermat drew his sword from its sheath, and with a mighty blow did he
strike at the boar's neck. But the sword broke in his hand, and the boar
felt not so much as a prick.
Now was Dermat without any weapon save the hilt of his sword, and the boar
made a deadly onslaught, thrusting his tusk into the hero's side. But with
the strength that was left him Dermat flung the hilt of the sword at the
brute's head, and it pierced his skull and entered his brain, whereupon
the boar fell dead.
But so deep was the wound in Dermat's side that when Finn came to him he
found the hero near unto death.
And Finn said, 'Now am I well content, for thine end hath come.'
'Sure the words that thou speakest come not from thine heart,' answered
Dermat, 'for it is in thy power to heal me, and that thou knowest full
well.'
'How might I heal thee?' asked Finn.
'Thou knowest that power was given thee to heal him who might be at the
point of death. Let him but drink water from the palms of thy closed
hands, and he is healed of his hurt.'
'Yet wherefore should I heal thee who hast worked me nought but ill?'
'Thou wouldst not speak thus wert thou mindful of the day when I saved
thee from the flames. Thou wast bidden to a banquet, and ere the feast
began the palace was set a-fire by those who wished thee ill. And I and my
men rushed forth and quenched the flames and slew thy foes. Had I begged
water from thy hands that night thou hadst not said me nay.'
'Thou forgettest that but for thee the fair Grania were my wedded wife.'
'Of a surety am I not blameworthy in this matter, O Finn, for Grania laid
upon me a solemn vow that I should follow her from Tara ere thou shouldst
wake from thy sleep. And I took counsel of many nobles, and there was not
one but said, "Even though death come of it, thou canst not depart from
the solemn vow that Grania hath laid upon thee." And now, I pray of thee,
let me drink from thine hands, else surely death will overtake me in this
place. From many another deadly strait have I delivered thee, yet hast
thou forgotten them all. But the hour will come when surely thou wilt need
my help shouldst thou let me die this day. Yet grieve I not to think that
thou wilt be in deadly strait, but rather grieve I for those true heroes
whom I shall no longer aid.'
Then one of the nobles, hearing these words, prayed Finn that he would let
Dermat drink from his hands.
Finn replied, 'I know not of any well on this hill whence I can bring
water.'
But Dermat said, 'Right well thou knowest that hidden by yonder bush is a
well of crystal water. No more than nine paces must thou go to reach it.
Let me, I pray thee, drink from thine hands.'
Then Finn went to the well, and in his two hands tightly together did he
bring the water towards Dermat. But as he came nearer he spilled it
through his fingers, saying that he could not in such manner carry water
so far.
But Dermat believed him not, and said, 'Of thine own will hast thou
spilled the water. I pray thee go once more to the well and bring me to
drink, or I die.'
Again the King went to the well, and with failing sight did Dermat follow
the dripping hands that came nearer and yet more near. But of a sudden
Finn thought of Grania, and a second time was the water spilled. And when
Dermat saw it, he uttered a piteous cry.
Then were the champions no longer able to see Dermat in such grievous
plight, and one said to Finn, 'I swear to thee that if thou bringest not
water to Dermat, thou shalt not leave this hill alive, save I be a dead
man.'
Finn, hearing these words and seeing their frowns, went a third time to
fetch water from the well. And this time he made haste to bring it to
Dermat, but ere he had got half-way, the hero's head fell backward and he
died.
Then were raised three long cries of sorrow for Dermat, who had been dear
unto them all.
After some time had passed Finn said, 'Let us leave this hill lest Angus
come, for he may not believe that it was not at our hands that Dermat met
his death.'
So Finn and his nobles left the hill, Finn leading Dermat's hound. But
four of the nobles turned back and laid their mantles over the champion.
Then they once more followed the King.
Grania sat that day on the highest tower of Rath-Grania, watching for
Dermat. The fear she had felt in the night would not be stilled, and when
at length Finn came in sight, leading by the chain Dermat's hound, she
knew that she would not henceforth see Dermat alive. And when the truth
had taken hold upon her, she fell in a swoon from the tower, and her
handmaiden stood over her in great fear.
But at length her eyes opened, and when it was told her that Dermat was
dead she uttered a long, piercing cry, so that all flocked to hear what
had befallen the Princess. And when it was told that Dermat had been
killed by the wild boar, the air was rent with cries of lamentation.
At length, when silence had fallen upon her grief, Grania arose, and
ordered that five hundred men should go to the hill and bring to her the
body of Dermat. Then turning to Finn she begged of him to leave with her
Dermat's hound. And Finn would not. But a noble, hearing that Grania
wished the hound took him from the hand of Finn and gave him to the
Princess.
Now as the men left Rath-Grania to bring home the body of Dermat, it was
revealed to Angus of Bruga that the hero lay dead on the hill. And he at
once set out on the wings of the wind and reached the sorrowful place ere
Grania's messengers had come there. And they, when they came, found Angus
mourning over the body of Dermat, and he asked them wherefore they were
come.
When it was told Angus that Grania had sent them to bring the body of
Dermat to Rath-Grania, he stayed for some time wrapt in thought. At length
he spake these words: 'Let it be told the Princess that I will take with
me the body of Dermat to my home, that he may be preserved by my power as
though he still lived. For though I cannot bring him back to life, yet
each day shall he speak with me for some space.'
And Angus turned to his men that he had brought with him there and ordered
that Dermat's body should be placed on a golden bier, with the red and
yellow javelins, one on either side, points upward. Thus was the dead hero
carried to the home of Angus.
When Grania's messengers came back to her bringing not with them the body
of Dermat, she was at first sore grieved. But when she heard how the hero
lay on a golden bier in the keeping of his foster-father, and would each
day speak with Angus for some space, then was she content, for she knew
that Angus loved Dermat as a father loveth his only son.
And Grania sent messengers to her sons to bid them come to her. And when
they were come, she welcomed them gently and kissed them. Then with an
exceeding loud and clear voice she said, 'O dear children, your father
hath been slain by the will of Finn, though peace had been sworn between
them. Therefore get ye hence and avenge his death. And that ye may have
success in the battle, I will myself portion out among you your
inheritance of arms, of arrows, and of sharp weapons. Spare none that
would do good to Finn, yet see ye to it that ye deal not treacherously
with any man. Hasten ye and depart.'
Then the sons of Dermat bade their mother a tender farewell, and went
forth to avenge their father's death.