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 THE MYSTERIOUS HOUND

sunny April morning Fionn woke up, troubled by a vague uneasiness, and think as he would he could find no reason for it. At last lie suddenly remembered one of his geasa-one, indeed, that he had forgotten for the time being—that he was not to sleep for more than nine nights in succession at the Hill of Allen, and this was the ninth night he had spent there. All the old kings and heroes had geasa, or prohibitions; that is, certain things which the Druids foretold as being unlucky or fatal for them to do. Some other of Fionn's geasa were that he must never look on a dead man, unless he had been killed by weapons; that he must never refuse a request; and a wise woman, a prophetess, put a prohibition on him never to drink out

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