And when
Dermat saw it, he uttered a piteous cry.
Then were the champions no longer able to see Dermat in such grievous
plight, and one said to Finn, 'I swear to thee that if thou bringest not
water to Dermat, thou shalt not leave this hill alive, save I be a dead
man.'
Finn, hearing these words and seeing their frowns, went a third time to
fetch water from the well. And this time he made haste to bring it to
Dermat, but ere he had got half-way, the hero's head fell backward and he
died.
Then were raised three long cries of sorrow for Dermat, who had been dear
unto them all.
After some time had passed Finn said, 'Let us leave this hill lest Angus
come, for he may not believe that it was not at our hands that Dermat met
his death.'
So Finn and his nobles left the hill, Finn leading Dermat's hound. But
four of the nobles turned back and laid their mantles over the champion.
Then they once more followed the King.
Grania sat that day on the highest tower of Rath-Grania, watching for
Dermat. The fear she had felt in the night would not be stilled, and when
at length Finn came in sight, leading by the chain Dermat's hound, she
knew that she would not henceforth see Dermat alive. And when the truth
had taken hold upon her, she fell in a swoon from the tower, and her
handmaiden stood over her in great fear.
But at length her eyes opened, and when it was told her that Dermat was
dead she uttered a long, piercing cry, so that all flocked to hear what
had befallen the Princess.
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