Page:Irish Fairy Tales (Stephens).djvu/379

XVII that Tibraidè got away to Cell Camain with nine of his men and they all wounded.

The King of Leinster came back then. He went to Duv Laca's room.

"Where is Tibraidè?" said he.

"It wasn't Tibraidè was here," said the hag who was still sitting on the spike, and was not half dead, "it was Mongan."

"Why did you let him near you?" said the king to Duv Laca.

"There is no one has a better right to be near me than Mongan has," said Duv Laca. "He is my own husband," said she.

And then the king cried out in dismay:

"I have beaten Tibraidè's people."

He rushed from the room.

"Send for Tibraidè till I apologise," he cried. "Tell him it was all a mistake. Tell him it was Mongan."