Page:Heroes of the dawn.djvu/281

 and laughter rose to my ears, and I asked Niav what land it was that lay hidden under the water.

"'That is Tir-fa-tonn—the country under the waves,' Niav replied.

"'It would be pleasant to rest there for a time,' I said.

"'I must go to my own country,' said Niav. 'Do you wish to stop here? If you do you will not see me again for many ages.'

"I had no desire to be where Niav was not, so we rode on. After a time there fled by us a fawn, and swiftly chasing it a white dog with red ears. Next came a fair young girl on a horse, carrying a branch of golden apples in her outstretched hand, and closely following her a young man on a white horse, covered by a network of gold silken thread, holding in his right hand a shining unsheathed sword. I was eager to join in the chase, but Niav said:

"'O Oisin, son of Fionn, heed them not; these also are passing shadows.'

"Now there came sweeping through the air a gigantic bird, whose outspread wings hid a great space of the sky. Seven golden rays