Page:Origin and Growth of Religion (Rhys).djvu/359

Rh a prince of the Hy-Many in Connaught, having been triumphed over by Cúchulainn, left to the latter as a sort of a souvenir of himself a 'destiny' that he, Cúchulainn, should enjoy no rest or peace till he discovered what had taken the three Sons of Dóel Dermait out of their country. Cúchulainn could find no one at the court of Conchobar to answer this strange question, which made him utterly restless, and proved well-nigh fatal to the king of Alban's son. This prince was accidentally met by Cúchulainn as he was landing to proceed on business to the king of Ulster's court: a mistake made by him brought on him Cúchulainn's fury, but he craved for mercy, which he obtained with the question, whether he knew what had taken the Sons of Dóel Dermait out of their country. The prince replied that he could not tell, but that if Cúchulainn would step into his boat he would set it sailing towards a land where he should get the mystery cleared up. This was agreed to, and Cúchulainn took with him two friends, Lugaid and Loeg, while he gave the king of Alban's son his little spear, with an ogam on it which he cut for him at the time: he was to take it with him and to seat himself in Cúchulainn's seat at the court of Ulster, and we hear no more about him. The boat brought Cúchulainn to the neighbourhood of Hades, to a very beautiful island surrounded by a wall of silver and a palisade of bronze. Here Cúchulainn was heartily welcomed on account of his friends Lugaid and Loeg. In answer to his question about the Sons of Dóel Dermait, he was told he should presently find it all out, as he would be directed to the next island, which was inhabited by the daughter of Dóel Dermait and her husband: the name of the former was Achtlann, and of