Blair Collection > Popular tales of the West Highlands > Volume 2

74 WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
should go and who should stay. The Feinn altogether
wished to go. Fiomi was not willing to go, for fear
the place should be taken out before they should come
(back). " I will not go," said Fionn. " Whether
thou goest or stayest, we will go," said they.
The rest went, but Fionn did not go. They stop-
ped, on the night when they went, at the root of a
tree ; they made a booth, and they began to play at
cards. Said Fionn, when the rest were gone, " I put
him from amongst heroes and warriors any man that will
follow me out." They followed after Fionn. They
saw a light before them, and they went forward where
the light was. Who were here but the others playing
at cards, and some asleep ; and it was a fine frosty
night. Fionn hailed them so stately and bravely.
When they heard the speaking of Fionn, those who
were laid down tried to rise, and the hair was stuck to
the ground. They were pleased to see their master.
Pleasant to have a stray hunting night. They went
home. Going past a place Avhere they used to house,
they saw a house. They asked what house was that.
They told them there was the house of a hunter.
They reached the house, and there was but a woman
within, the wife of the fine green kirtle. She said to
them, " Fionn, son of Cumal, thou art welcome here."
They went in. Tliere were seven doors to the house.
Fionn asked his gillies to sit in the seven doors. They
did that. Fionn and his company sat on the one side
of the house to breathe. The woman went out. When
she came in, she said, " Fionn, son of Cumal, it is long
since I was wishing thy Avelfare, but its little I can do
for thee to-night. The son of the king of the people
of Danan is coming here, with his eight hundred full
heroes, this night." "Yonder side of the house be
theirs, and this side ours, unless there come men of