mall little man about four feet in height
standing on the grass. Light yellow hair he had, hanging down to his
waist, and he playing music on his harp. And the music he was making had
no fault in it at all, and it is much that the whole of the Fianna did
not fall asleep with the sweetness of its sound. He came up then, and
put his hand in Finn's hand. "Where do you come from, little one,
yourself and your sweet music?" said Finn. "I am come," he said, "out of
the place of the Sidhe in Slieve-nam-ban, where ale is drunk and made;
and it is to be in your company for a while I am come here." "You will
get good rewards from me, and riches and red gold," said Finn, "and my
full friendship, for I like you well." "That is the best luck ever came
to you, Finn," said all the rest of the Fianna, for they were well
pleased to have him in their company. And they gave him the name of the
Little Nut; and he was good in speaking, and he had so good a memory he
never forgot anything he heard east or west; and there was no one but
must listen to his music, and all the Fianna liked him well. And there
were some said he was a son of Lugh Lamh-Fada, of the Long Hand.

And the five musicians of the Fianna were brought to him, to learn the
music of the Sidhe he had brought from that other place; for there was
never any music heard on earth but his was better. These were the three
best things Finn ever got, Bran and Sceolan that were without fault, and
the Little Nut from the House of the Sidhe in Slieve-nam-ban.

CHAPTER III. BIRTH OF BRAN.

This, now, is the story of the birth of Bran.

Finn's mother, Muirne, came one time to Almhuin, and she brought with
her Tuiren, her sister. And Iollan Eachtach, a chief man of the Fianna
of Ulster, was at Almhuin at the time, and he gave his love to Tuiren,
and asked her in marriage, and brought her to his own house. But before
they went, Finn made him gave his word he would bring her back safe and
sound if ever he asked for her, and he bade him find sureties for
himself among the chief men of the Fianna. And Iollan did that, and the
sureties he got were Caoilte and Goll and Lugaidh Lamha, and it was
Lugaidh gave her into the hand of Iollan Eachtach.

But before Iollan made that marriage, he had a sweetheart of the Sidhe,
Uchtdealb of the Fair Breast; and there came great jealousy on her when
she knew he had taken a wife. And she took the appearance of Finn's
woman-messenger, and she came to