Page:Heroes of the dawn.djvu/147

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PURSUIT OF GILLA DECAIR
115

him. The next morning, however, the magician appeared again, and the fight was continued till evening, when he again disappeared. The same thing occurred on the following day, but when the magician would have dived into the well as before, Diarmuid seized him round the neck, and they both fell in together.

Down they dropped through the clear water, and when the bottom was reached Diarmuid was so astonished at the sight before his eyes that he loosened his grip on the magician, who escaped as quickly as he could.

The well had widened out into a broad lake, with little waves breaking on golden sands, and rippling over Diarmuid's feet. He stood there, wondering what country of the Sidhe he had reached, for before him stretched a wide green plain, with beautiful flowers growing over it, and shining white palaces standing in its midst, and before the largest of the palaces a multitude of armed men were gathered. Then Diarmuid saw the magician passing through this warlike host, and raising the battle shout of the Fianna he ran quickly