J. F. Campbell Collection > Popular tales of the West Highlands > Volume 2

4 I + WEST HIGHLAXD TALES.
" Morsel I will not eat, draught I will not drink,
sleep there will not come on my eye, till I reach where
they are, and I know who they are," said he.
" Fair Chief he not so silly, and let that lightness
pass from thy head ; stay as thou art, for I know thou
wilt return," said she.
" I will not make stay T)y night or day, until I reach
them," said he.
"The day is soft and misty," said slie, " and thou
art setting it hefore thee that thou wilt go. The Peen
are in such a place, and they have a net fishing trout.
Thou shalt go over where they are. Thou wilt see the
Feen on one side, and Fionn alone on the other side.
Thou shalt go where he is, and thou shalt hless him.
Fionn will bless thee in the same way ; thou shalt ask
service from liim ; he will say that he has no service
for thee, now that the Feen are strong enough, and
he will not put a man out. He will say, ' What name
is upon thee 1 ' Thou shalt answer, the name thou
didst never hide. An Gruagach ban Mac liigh Eireann.
Fionn will say then, ' Tliough I should not want of a
man, why should 1 not give ser^ace to the son of thy
father.' Be not high minded amongst the Feeantan.
Come now, and thou shalt have a napkin that is here,
and thou shalt say to Fionn, whether thou he ahve or
dead to put thee in it when comes its need."
He went away, and he reached (the place) where
the Feen were ; he saw them there fishing trout, the
rest on the one side, and Fionn on the other side
alone. He went where Fionn Avas, and he blessed
liim. Fionn blessed him in words that were no worse.
" I heard that there were such men, and I came to
you to seek hire from you," said the Fair Chief.
" Well, then, I have no need of a man at the time,"
said Fionn. " What name is upon thee ?"