Page:Heroes of the dawn.djvu/127

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THE MYSTERIOUS HOUND
97

dead rose from the ground, and the three brothers attacked Donn and Dubhan, who having no arms to defend themselves with, were killed.

"Breathe on them, hound, and make them as though they had never lived," said the men.

The hound blew a fiery breath on the bodies of Donn and Dubhan, and immediately they were burned into little heaps of ashes, which were blown hither and thither by the wind.

In the morning it was told to Fionn that Donn and his brother had disappeared, and he sent his men all through Ireland searching for them; but the Fians returned, saying there was no trace anywhere of the King of Ulster's sons. When Fionn heard that he placed his thumb of knowledge in his mouth, and divined instantly the dreadful death that had happened to Donn and Dubhan. Terrible then was the wrath that filled him against the King of Norway's sons—for Fionn alone had power to judge any misdeed or broken word of the Fianna—and taking his spear in his hand he