Page:Heroes of the dawn.djvu/268

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HEROES OF THE DAWN

forth from Assaroe and appeared to Patrick, telling him the history and adventures of Fionn and the Fianna Eireann.

In the old books it is also written that, early in the seventh century, Caeilté again appeared—this time to Mongan, King of Ulster. Mongan had a dispute with his chief bard Forgall as to the death-place of a king, Fothad Airgtech, whom Caeilté had slain. Forgall said the king was killed at some place in Leinster, but Mongan said he got his death-blow near the Lame Water, in Ulster. The bard was so angry with Mongan for daring to contradict him that he threatened to place spells upon the king and all his household, and insisted that Mongan should prove the truth of the statement he had made; if he failed to prove it within three days all his possessions, and even himself, were to become the bard's property.

Knowing that he had made a true statement, and that its truth would be proved in some manner or other, Mongan cheerfully agreed to this condition. Two days passed, and part of the third day also; then Forgall