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 door without ceremony. As they entered the room—which was dimly lit by a single torch and appeared to be empty—the most dreadful howls and screeches seemed to rise from the floor and fill every corner. Caeilté said:

"Surely this is the abode of demons. Let us go hence. It will be no new thing for us to sleep under the shade of the trees, or go supperless to our rest."

But Fionn turned to Caeilté and said:

"The Fians never yet turned their backs on demons or men, and not now will they begin. It is not like you, son of Ronan, to have fear because of a few little howls."

"It is not the seen I fear to grapple with, but the unseen," said Caeilté. "By my spear, here is something visible at last."

Both he and Oisin pointed with their spears to the middle of the floor, and Fionn turned to look. There, before him, stood three figures: one a tall man, with tangled grey hair and beard—the ugliest man he had ever seen; and by his side stood a grim old woman with three heads, and each of the heads was yelling most horribly. But the third figure