crooked holly-tree and bring us three forked sticks from it. We will place a spell on the Fians from which they shall never recover."
Conaran brought the holly-sticks to his daughters, and they, taking three bundles of yarn and the forked twigs, sought the cave that penetrates far into the mound of Keshcorran. They seated themselves just inside it, and planting their sticks firmly in the sandy floor, stretched the wool on them, and began to wind and twist it into ropes.
Now Fionn was sitting on the hill-top, with only his two dogs, Bran and Sgeolan, and Conan mac Morna to keep him company. When the hounds heard the other dogs barking as they followed the chase through the woods below, they strained at their leash, and whined to get away also. Fionn set them free, and watched them racing down the hillside, and after a time he and Conan followed them.
When they had walked a little distance a faint sound of singing fell on their ears, and they stopped to listen:
