going to a feast. And there are but few of my
people with me," he said; "and I know there is no good thing before me,
but the Men of Dea are going to raise a quarrel against me and to kill
my people." "I will defend you against anything they may do," said Goll.

They went on then to Conan's house, and there was a welcome before them,
and they were brought into the drinking-hall, and Finn was put in the
place beside the door, and Goll on his right and Finndeilb, of the Fair
Shape, on his left, and all the rest in the places they were used to.

And as to Fionnbhar of Magh Feabhail and the Tuatha de Danaan, they put
a Druid mist about themselves and went on, hidden and armed, in sixteen
battalions, to the lawn before Conan's house. "It is little profit we
have being here," they said then, "and Goll being with Finn against us."
"Goll will not protect him this time," said Ethne, the woman-Druid, "for
I will entice Finn out of the house, however well he is watched."

She went on to the house then, and took her stand before Finn outside.
"Who is that before me?" she said then. "It is I myself," said Finn. "I
put you under the bonds a true hero never broke," she said, "to come out
to me here." When Finn heard that, he made no delay and went out to her;
and for all there were so many in the house, not one of them took notice
of him going, only Caoilte, and he followed him out. And at the same
time the Tuatha de Danaan let out a flock of blackbirds having fiery
beaks, that pitched on the breasts of all the people in the house, and
burned them and destroyed them, till the young lads and the women and
children of the place ran out on all sides, and the woman of the house,
Conan's wife, was drowned in the river outside the dun.

But as to Ethne, the woman-Druid, she asked Finn would he run against
her. "For it is to run a race against you I called you out," she said.
"What length of a race?" said Finn. "From Doire da Torc, the Wood of the
Two Boars, to Ath Mor, the Great Ford," she said. So they set out, but
Finn got first over the ford. And Caoilte was following after them, and
Finn was urging him, and he said: "It is ashamed of your running you
should be, Caoilte, a woman to be going past you." On that Caoilte made
a leap forward, and when he was in front of the witch he turned about
and gave a blow of his sword that made two equal halves of her.

"Power and good luck to you, Caoilte!" said Finn; "for though it is many
a good