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 when they heard Fionn speak with such certainty. The loss of their hounds would be a great calamity, for they had brought with them only the best trained and the swiftest. Even Conan was silent, then he burst out:

"Never yet, O Fionn, have I been out with you that you did not get me into some trouble or scrape. Now, following after that animal which hasn't its like in any country under the sun, my best hounds are gone, and I swear I will give you neither rest nor peace until you have found me two equally good."

As he finished speaking Fionn heard a distant, piteous cry, and soon after Bran appeared, tired and wet, and covered with bog-mire from head to tail. She lay down before Fionn, and howled long and sorrowfully.

"I think," said Fionn, "she has a knowledge of some unknown danger which threatens us.

"And what worse can happen to us than the loss of our swift and gentle hounds?" asked Diarmuid. "I would rather have been covered with wounds in battle than have this thing happen."