Page:Celtic Stories by Edward Thomas.djvu/69

 wildly lamented. Only Finn was not overcome. Instead of weeping or groaning or bellowing, he began to sing the war song of the Fena, and one by one the others gave up their lamentations and joined the song, until all were singing together. No spell could resist this song sung by a man with all his heart and soul, because it caused all other things to disappear so long as it sounded. The heroes became merely throats to sing, and ears to hear, the magnificent chant.

They were singing this song when two messengers from Ossian arrived outside the palace at nightfall to learn how they fared. One of these men, named Innsa, judged that all was well because they were singing; but Ficna the other knew that the slowness of the song meant ill. Finn heard and recognized their voices outside.

'We are spellbound here,' he told them, 'fastened to the ground by the enchantment of the three Kings of the Island of the Torrent. Beware. As for us, only their blood can deliver us. Save yourselves.'

'We will never save ourselves, except in your company,' they replied; and when he knew that they were resolved not to go away Finn told them that one good man could defend against a whole army the narrow entrance to the ford among the rocks below.

So Innsa took his stand between two rocks like pillars, while Ficna went forward to the Palace of the Island to see what he could see. But by another road one of the King of the World's chieftains came down with many knights and reached the ford. On the opposite side he saw what might have been a warrior or a tall rock, and he hailed it:

'Who is there?'

'Innsa, of Finn's household,' answered a voice.