or you have two horses and a chariot that are the best in
the world, as we have been told, and we have not been given a sight of
them yet." "It would be a pity you to go on that account," said the
king, "when I would have showed them to you the first day, if I had
known you had a wish to see them. And if you have a mind to see them
now," he said, "you may see them; for I think there never came soldiers
from Ireland to this place that were thought more of by myself and by my
people than yourselves."

He sent for the horses then, and they were yoked to the chariot, and
their going was as fast as the cold spring wind, and the sea was the
same as the land to them.

And Brian was watching the horses closely, and on a sudden he took hold
of the chariot and took the chariot driver out and dashed him against
the nearest rock, and made a leap into his place himself, and made a
cast of the Persian spear at the king, that went through his heart. And
then he and his brothers scattered the people before them, and brought
away the chariot.

"We will go now to Easal, the King of the Golden Pillars," said Brian,
"to look for the seven pigs the Ildanach bade us bring him."

They sailed on then without delay or drawback to that high country. And
it is the way the people of that country were, watching their harbours
for fear of the sons of Tuireann, for the story of them had been told
in all parts, how they had been sent out of Ireland by force, and how
they were bringing away with them all the gifted treasures of the whole
world.

Easal came to the edge of the harbour to meet them, and he asked was it
true what he heard, that the king of every country they had gone to had
fallen by them. Brian said it was true, whatever he might wish to do to
them for it. "What was it made you do that?" said Easal. Brian told him
then it was the oppression and the hard sentence of another had put them
to it; and he told him all that had happened, and how they had put down
all that offered to stand against them until that time.

"What did you come to this country now for?" said the king. "For the
pigs belonging to yourself," said Brian; "for to bring them away with us
is a part of the fine." "What way do you think to get them?" said the
king. "If we get them with good-will," said Brian, "we are ready to take
them thankfully; and if we do not, we are ready to do battle with
yourself and your people on the head of them, that you may fall by us,
and w