Ossian Collection > Waifs and strays of Celtic tradition > Volume 4

2o6 The Fians.
could take the firm grasp rose and seized the hand, but
the Hand pulled him — i.e., the One that was in the
house — out half-way. The One inside made another
attempt, and took off the arm from the shoulders of the
One outside. He himself fell, and before he could rise
up, the One that was outside put in a hand and took
with him the child. Fionn was troubled, as he had said
to the King that he would keep the child.
The King was in great anxiety and deep distress, and
the Queen also was deeply grieved. Fionn then said that
the sky would make a nest in his head and the earth a
hollow in his feet " if I do not find your children for
you".
On the morrow he launched the galley that was seven
years and seven days being tarred and caulked. He and
his men went in her to sail the proud seas. They reached
a wild, extensive country; they drew the galley up on the
green grass while they betook themselves some distance
through the country. They did not go far through it
when they met a house with its walls covered with eel-
skin. "The man," said Fionn, "who can climb a wall
covered with eel-skin, climb up and look what you can
see." The One climbed up. When he returned he said,
" There is a great warrior (giant) sitting in the house ;
he is one-armed. He has a child on the palm of his
hand, and two other children are playing on the floor
beside him." Fionn then said: " The One who can take
its &^% from the heron when she is looking at it with both
eyes, put your hands round his neck, and he will take
you up and get the babes." He went up and caught
the two boys who were playing, and at last seized the
one on the palm of the giant's hand. He then saw a
nest with three puppies in it, which he lifted away
with him. They (the whole of Fionn's company) now
set off for the shore. On looking behind they saw the
mother of the puppies coming after them. Then Fionn