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 up the hillside looking for their chief. When they saw the dreadful-looking hags inside the cave they stopped, and viewed them with astonishment; then they caught sight of Fionn and Conan, bound and powerless, and wild with indignation and anger stepped over the barrier to free them. But helplessness fell on them too, and though they struggled with what remnant of strength they still possessed, the witches easily overcame them.

The day passed on, and one group after another of the Fians came up the hillside, and seeing the plight their comrades were in attempted to rescue them; but the same fate befell them as the others. At last, late in the afternoon, Oscur and Caeilté and mac Lugach, with a great number of the Clan Basna and Clan Morna, attracted by the baying of hounds at the cave mouth—for they would not follow their masters into the cave—ascended the hill to see what was happening. They too were overcome by the magic spells the demon hags had woven about the cave, and were easily bound and thrown into dark corners with the other Fians.