Page:Heroes of the dawn.djvu/301

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THE SLUMBER OF FIONN
249

could never be found, for it was hidden by spells and druidical mists from the eyes of men.

Again and again he looked at the dark spot, half expecting to see it vanish and become green, like the rest of the hillside; but it still remained visible. Then he determined to climb up to it, and, keeping his eyes fixed on the cleft, began the ascent. When he reached it, he found that what appeared to be a small hole from the valley below was really a very wide and lofty entrance to an immense cave, which seemed to penetrate far into the interior of the hill.

He walked some distance into this cave, and then came to a still larger one, shaped like a vast circular chamber, and filled with a faint golden misty light. A great wonder and fear came upon him as he stood on its threshold and looked within, for lying on the sandy ground was a multitude of armed and gigantic men, their right hands clasping unsheathed swords, and their shields covering their breasts, while by the side of each warrior a wolf-hound lay as though asleep. In the midst of