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 secret spot. In time Bove Derg discovered us, and even now will not let us abide in peace, but wages war on us continually. Many hundreds we were, I say, for I and my brothers had ten hundred men each; now we alone remain to carry on the fight."

"What caused so many of your people to die?" asked Fionn.

"Every year the Tuatha de Danann come in battle against us on the plain outside, and I fear that the next time they come we shall not be able to withstand them. But if our losses have been great, theirs have been great also," said Donn mac Midir proudly, "and it is better for us to fall fighting than to live in unjust subjection."

Fionn held out his hand to Donn, and exclaimed:

"By my spear, I would that you and your brothers belonged to the Fianna, for we too have always waged war on the unjust, and if we can give you help in your fighting we will. But tell me now, O son of Midir, in your battles with the Tuatha de Danann what losses have they sustained?"