"Send your boat adrift, Enda," she said; "but first take out your
shining spear; the water-dress and the crystal helmet will take care
of themselves."

Enda took out the spear, and then pushed the boat from the bank. It
sped on towards the hut in the middle of the lake; but before it had
reached halfway six nymphs sprang up from the water and seizing the
helmet and dress, sank with them beneath the tide, and the boat went
on until it pushed its prow against the steps of the little hut, where
it remained.

Then Enda and the princess turned towards the south, and it was not
long until they came to a deep forest, that was folding up its shadows
and spreading out its mossy glades before the glancing footsteps of
the morning. They had not gone far through the forest when they heard
the music of hounds and the cries of huntsmen, and crashing towards
them through the low branches they saw a fierce wild boar. Enda,
gently pushing the princess behind him, levelled his spear, and when
the boar came close to him he drove it into his throat. The brute fell
dead at his feet, and the dogs rushing up began to tear it to pieces.
The princess fainted at the sight, and while Enda was endeavouring to
restore her, the king of Erin, followed by his huntsmen, appeared, and
when the king saw the princess he started in amazement, as he
recognised the features of his daughter Mave.

At that moment the princess came to herself, and her father, lifting
her tenderly in his arms, kissed her again and again.

"I have mourned you as dead, my darling," said he, "and now you are
restored to me more lovely than ever. I would gladly have given up my
throne for this. But say who is the champion who has brought you
hither, and who has slain the wild boar we have hunted so many years
in vain?"

The princess blushed like a rose as she said:

"His name is Enda, father; it is he has brought me back to you."

Then the king embraced Enda and said:

"Forgive me, Enda, for asking any questions about you before you have
shared the hospitality of my court. My palace lies beyond the forest,
and we shall reach it soon."

Then the king ordered his huntsman to sound the bugle-horn, and all
his nobles galloped up in answer to it, and when they saw the Princess
Mave they were so dazzled by her beauty that they scarcely gave a
thought to the death of the wild boar.

"It is my daughter, Mave, come back to me," said the king.

And all the nobles lowered their