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 to the Clan Morna's knowledge that a son of Cumall still lived, and far and near they sought for him to kill him. The wise Druidesses had foreknowledge of this, and long before the Clan Morna searched the Slieve Bloom mountains Fionn had been hurried south and hidden safely away in the Galtees; but when the Clan Morna gave up the search and returned to Tara this small child, who was hunted so relentlessly by his enemies, was carried back again by the Druidesses to his mountain home.

Though very young, Fionn already showed signs of that bravery and undaunted courage for which he became so famous in after years, and fear was unknown to him. As a child he would go hunting by himself through forest and over mountain, and return to the Druidesses laden with hares or wild fowl; when he grew older he would hunt and run down the swift deer on foot, and stand up unafraid before the fiercest boar.

Year after year passed by, and when the Druidesses had taught Fionn all their ancient wisdom—had taught him also to be noble and