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 things," said the boy, "is often nobler than he who has wrought great deeds."

"You speak," said Fiacha, "with a wisdom which I thought only the old possessed; a wisdom taught by much suffering and many failures," then with slow footsteps he left Fionn and returned to the banqueting hall.

In loneliness—except for a huge silver-grey hound which accompanied him Fionn paced round the rath. Three times he had accomplished its circuit, when the dog by his side lifted its head and howled mournfully, and shivered as though overcome by some dreadful terror. Fionn placed his hand on the hound, and spoke comfortingly to it; then looked intently into the darkness to see what thing of fear was approaching. He could see nothing, and resumed his steady pacing. Soon, however, a faint, low music fell on his ears, and he stood listening to it. So sweet, so wonderful was it, that it placed an enchantment on his senses, and only when he began to feel sleep overpowering him did he realize that this was the music of the enchanter Aillen mac Midna, who was coming to destroy Tara.