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Chisholm, Louey

"Celtic Tales, Told to the Children"


Yet was it not long ere Dermat was again in sore strait, for Finn followed
him to Bruga, and with Finn came his old nurse. And she was a witch.
Now it chanced on the day that they came thither that Dermat hunted alone
in the wood. And the witch flew on the leaf of a yellow water-lily till
she came straight over the place where Dermat was. Then through a hole in
the leaf she aimed deadly darts at the hero, and though he was clad in
strong armour they did him great hurt.
So sore were his wounds that Dermat thought the witch would cause his
death on the spot, unless he could pierce her through the hole in the
leaf.
Therefore he took his red javelin and cast it with all care. And so sure
was his aim that it reached the witch through the leaf, and she fell to
the ground dead. Then Dermat cut off her head and took it to Angus.
Early on the morrow Angus rose and went where Finn was, and he asked him
if he would make peace with Dermat.
And Finn, because he had now lost his witch-nurse as well as many men, was
glad to make peace in whatever way Dermat might choose.
Then Angus went to Cormac, and he too was glad to make peace with the
hero.
But when Angus came to Dermat he said he would not make peace unless he
received from Finn and from Cormac all the wide lands that he asked.
And Cormac and Finn gave him the lands, and forgave him all he had done.


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