Page:Heroes of the dawn.djvu/79

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CHASE OF GLEANN-NA-SMOL
55

him and all his Fians, as I have killed those with Fionn," said the woman, and she glared at Caeilté so venomously, and looked so dreadful, that he slipped down the side of the ship into his boat and hurried away.

"And indeed," said Caeilté, after telling Goll what the woman had threatened, "never before have I fled from anyone, and for shame I cannot hold up my head again among the men of Ireland until I have put an end to that woman."

Then Caeilté and Goll, remembering what the woman had said about killing their comrades, grieved together, for they thought that never again would they see their noble and generous chief Fionn. The Fians crowded around them, and, hearing the cause of their grief, vowed they would exact a vengeance that should not be easily forgotten.

The morning hours had almost passed when the watchmen called out that a great number of armed men, with the red-haired woman leading them, were putting off from the ship in boats. Goll ordered Caeilté to take his Fians to the strand and prevent the enemy