Page:Myths and Folk-Lore of Ireland (Curtin).djvu/275

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Gilla na Grakin and Fin MacCumhail.
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at her sharply, and said to Fin, "I think it 's Lun Dubh that 's on that ship."

"Well," said Fin, "may be he 'll not know you in a strange dress."

When Lun Dubh came alongside, he called out: "I know you well, and it 's not by your dress that I know you, Césa MacRi na Tulach." Then Lun Dubh sprang on deck, raised his hand, struck Gilla, and stretched him dead.

Fin sailed away with the body of Gilla na Grakin, and when he came in sight of the shore of Erin he raised a black flag; for he had promised Gilla's wife to raise a white flag if her husband was well, but a black one if he was dead.

When he came to the shore, Scéhide ni Wánanan was there before him, and she had a large, roomy box. When she saw Fin she said, "You have him dead with you?"

"I have," said Fin.

"What will you do with him now? " asked she.

"I will bury him decently," said Fin.

"You will not," said she; "you will put him in this box."

Then Fin put him in the box. She went aside and got some fresh shamrock and went into the box with Gilla. Then she told Fin to push the box out to sea, and putting down the cover fastened it inside.