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 eaten of these things will have strength and valour and wisdom as long as his life endures."

When Fionn heard this he began to wonder what manner of people he had come among—whether they were magicians or people of the Sidhe.

"Who are you, warrior, and who are your companions?" he questioned. "Many years I have been up and down through Ireland, going from north to south, from east to west, and I do not remember meeting you before."

"We are of the race of those who see, but are not seen," answered the man, "for I am Donn mac Midir, and the twenty-seven men yonder are my brothers, sons of Midir the Sun-Bright also. We, and others of our kin, were happy together until Bove Derg obtained the kingship of the Tuatha de Danann, and claimed hostages from us. But we rebelled, and would not accede to Bove Derg's demands unless all the Tuatha de Danann gave hostages too. Because of this Bove Derg threatened my father, and to save him much trouble and warfare we left him, and with many hundreds of our followers hid ourselves in this quiet,