And
going in he found Dermat and Grania asleep, and he thrust his head into
Dermat's bosom.
And Dermat woke with a start, and when he saw Bran there was no need for
the hound to tell whence he came.
Then Dermat awoke his wife and told her that Finn was near.
Great fear looked from out the eyes of Grania when she heard, and she
begged that they might flee.
But Dermat answered, 'Were we to flee, yet would Finn overtake us, and it
were as ill to fall into his hands then as at this time, but neither he
nor his men shall enter this hut without my leave.'
Still Grania feared greatly, but she spake no further, for in Dermat's
eyes she read his gloom.
While Bran still tarried by the hut, the nobles who loved Dermat thought
of yet another warning to send their friend. They had with them a
serving-man whose voice was so loud that it could be heard for many miles,
and they made this man give three shouts that Dermat might hear.
And when Dermat heard the shouts he said to Grania, 'Well I know whose is
the voice that shouteth, and full well I know that it cometh as a warning
that Finn is nigh.'
Then great fear took hold of Grania, and she trembled, and again she said,
'Let us flee, for how shall we withstand the wrath of Finn?'
But Dermat said, 'We will not flee, but neither Finn nor his men shall
enter the hut without my leave.'
Then was Grania filled with foreboding, yet spake she no further, for sad
and stern was her husband's voice, and in his eyes she read his gloom.
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