When Angus and Grania had gone, Dermat girded on his armour, and, deep in
thought, he walked to one of the seven doors and asked who was without.
And the answer came, 'True friends are we, and no harm shall befall thee,
shouldst thou venture forth.'
But Dermat answered, 'I seek the door guarded by Finn, and by none other
shall I leave this place.'
And he came to another door and asked who was without, and again was it
told him, 'Thy bounden friends.'
Then to the third, to the fourth, and to the fifth door did Dermat go, and
at each was he told how the men without were willing to fight to the death
for their love of him.
But when Dermat came to the sixth door and asked by whom it was guarded,
the answer came, 'No friends of thine, for shouldst thou dare to venture
forth, we will make thee a mark for our swords and spears.'
'Cowards, no fear of you keepeth me from coming forth, but I crave not the
blood of such as ye.'
And he went to the seventh door and asked who was without. And the voice
of Finn answered, 'He that hateth thee, and will sever thy head from thy
body shouldst thou dare to come forth.'
'At length have I found the door I seek, for by the door that Finn
guardeth, by it only shall I pass out.'
But Dermat, seeing of a sudden an unguarded spot, sprang with a light
bound over the fence, and ran so swiftly that soon he was beyond the reach
of sword or spear.
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