Page:Heroes of the dawn.djvu/149

 The Druid, for such he was, conducted Diarmuid a long distance through the country until at last they came to a high castle surrounded by woods, and tended him so well that at the end of three days he was completely healed. Diarmuid then inquired what country he had come to, and who was the head of it. The man replied:

"This is Tir-fa-tonn—the Land under the Waves—and he whom you fought with is its king, and an ancient enemy of mine; for that reason, also because from your manner of fighting I knew you to be one of Fionn's champions, I determined to aid you. I myself was with Fionn for a year long ago, and a better master and a nobler man than he never lived. Now tell me what brought you here?"

Diarmuid then related to the Druid the story of the Gilla Decair and the Fians, and of the search that was being made for them.

II

In the meantime Fionn had grown very uneasy at the prolonged absence of Diarmuid.