And there Grania rested, and there did Dermat bring to her food of the
forest and water from a clear spring.
* * * * *
It was early dawn at Tara when Cormac and Finn awoke from their deep
sleep.
When Finn found that Grania had fled with Dermat, great was his wrath, and
he called to him his nobles, and ordered them with all speed to follow in
the track of Dermat and Grania.
And Finn went with them, nor was the track hard to follow until they came
to the river Shannon, but there it was lost and no man could find it.
Then was the wrath of Finn so great that he said he would hang his nobles,
and not one would he spare, if they did not again find the track, and that
with all speed.
So, being sore afraid, they crossed the river, and when they had searched
they saw the horses one on either side, and they found, too, the spot
where Dermat and Grania had turned from the river.
And when they told Finn, he was content, for he knew of a surety that
Dermat and Grania hid in the deep wood.
Now among the nobles were those who loved Dermat, and would fain save him
from the hate of Finn. And one said, 'It behooveth us to send warning to
Dermat. Let us send to him Bran, the hound of Finn, for Bran loveth Dermat
as though he were his own master.'
And they called the hound and told him secretly what he should do.
Bran listened with ears erect, and then, losing no time, he followed the
track, nor did he miss it once until it brought him unto the hut.
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