Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race - Knowledge Rush

230 Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race
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foreigner, and Saba looking ever down the pass for thy return, we
saw one day as it were the likeness of thee approaching, and Bran
and Skolawn at thy heels. And we seemed also to hear the notes
of the Fian hunting-call blown on the wind. Then Saba hastened
to the great gate, and we could not stay her, so eager was she
to rush to the phantom. But when she came near she halted and
gave a loud and bitter cry, and the shape of thee smote her with
a hazel wand, and lo, there was no woman there any more, but a
deer. Then those hounds chased it, and ever as it strove to reach
again the gate of the dūn they turned back. We all now seized
what arms we could and ran out to drive away the enchanter, but
when we reached the place there was nothing to be seen, only
still we heard the rushing of flying feet and the baying of dogs,
and one thought it came from here, and another from there, till at
last the uproar died away and all was still. What we could do, O
Finn, we did; Saba is gone.”
Finn then struck his hand on his breast, but spoke no word,
and he went to his own chamber. No man saw him for the rest of
that day, nor for the day after. Then he came forth, and ordered
the matters of the Fianna as of old, but for seven years thereafter
he went searching for Saba through every remote glen and dark
forest and cavern of Ireland, and he would take no hounds with
him save Bran and Skolawn. But at last he renounced all hope of
finding her again, and went hunting as of old.
One day as he was following the chase on Ben Bulban, in
Sligo, he heard the musical bay of the dogs change of a sudden
to a fierce growling and yelping, as though they were in combat
with some beast, and running hastily up he and his men beheld,
under a great tree, a naked boy with long hair, and around him the
hounds struggling to seize him, but Bran and Skolawn fighting
with them and keeping them off. And the lad was tall and
shapely, and as the heroes gathered round he gazed undauntedly
on them, never heeding the rout of dogs at his feet. The Fians
beat off the dogs and brought the lad home with them, and Finn