240 Collectanea.
to tell him what was coming, because himself couldn't see at all, ye know. So the boy said he saw the sky dark with birds coming from all directions. Then he asked him, did he "see any remarkable bird a con)ing?" says he. "Well," says the boy, " there's one bird coming," says he, " that looks as if it could cover a field, so it might," says he. " It's a terrible big bird entirely," says he. " Well, when that bird is perched on the ground," says Fionn, " we're done for if Bran don't be able for him." So the bird came then, and Bran and the bird had a great battle. And Bran at last killed the bird. So Fionn caught one of the legs of the bird, and brought it home to Saint Padraic's housekeeper, and he asked her, " Is that," says he, " not bigger than three of your legs of mutton ? " says he. " It is," says she.
- ' Well, do you remember," says he, " when ye told me," says he,
"that I was a liar?" says he. "I do," says she. Then he took the leg of mutton and smashed her across the brain with it, and that done for her. " Ye'U never again," says he, " tell anybody that lie," says he. So Saint Padraic came on the scene then, and he was in an awful state entirely. And he asked Fionn MacCumhall what was this he had done? So Fionn explained the matter to Saint Padraic and told him the reason, and Saint Padraic was satisfied with him then.
Well, Saint Padraic kept him then for a long time trying to make him a Christian, (for ye know he had always up to this time been a dirty Pagan) ; and he succeeded in the end, but it wasn't an easy thing for him. Well, he consented then to be baptized, and, when Saint Padraic was baptizing him, he wasn't very sure of his faith, for he thought he was only lukewarm, ye know. So, to test his faith, he took hold of a little short spear he had in his hand, and let it drop on Fionn MacCumhall's foot. Now Fionn MacCumhall was bare footed at the time, and he was not wearing boots on him. And so he began to bleed. So Saint Padraic pretended that it was accidental, and said he was sorry. So Fionn MacCumhall answered, and said, — " Don't it belong to the baptism?" said he. So Saint Padraic had tested him then, so he was satisfied with his faith when he was willing to be bleeding for his faith. So for the rest of his life Fionn MacCumhall remained a good Christian.
