Heroes of the dawn . ath from the spear-head, and held the shining blade to the centreof his forehead ; as he did so the enchantmentfell from him, and the strange power hiddenin the blade filled him with a new fearlessnessand strength. Now within the dun there was silence;listening to the soft, delicate music oneafter another of the warriors and kings hadslipped from their seats and lay on the floor,wrapped in a deep slumber. Even the Druidswere powerless to resist that sleep-compellingmelody. Their symbols of power droppedfrom their hands as they, too, fell to the all that great rath
Heroes of the dawn . ath from the spear-head, and held the shining blade to the centreof his forehead ; as he did so the enchantmentfell from him, and the strange power hiddenin the blade filled him with a new fearlessnessand strength. Now within the dun there was silence;listening to the soft, delicate music oneafter another of the warriors and kings hadslipped from their seats and lay on the floor,wrapped in a deep slumber. Even the Druidswere powerless to resist that sleep-compellingmelody. Their symbols of power droppedfrom their hands as they, too, fell to the all that great rath there was not one soulawake, except the young champion who keptwatch; even warriors, wounded almost todeath and racked with pain, slumbered peace-fully. Nearer and nearer the music came, thenceased ; but Fionn, gazing steadily before him,became aware of a gigantic figure standing somedistance away, like a darker blot on the starlitdarkness of the night. The boy gripped hisspear with his brave right hand, holding his. THROUGH THE DARKNESS CAME A SHAFT OP FLAME. FIONN RAISEDHIS SHIELD TO CATCH IT THE ENCHANTMENT OF TARA 33 shield firmly with his left. Then through thedarkness came a shaft of flame, blown from theenchanters mouth, and Fionn raised his shieldto catch it. But the shield changed to a four-folded impenetrable mantle—woven from theblue of air, the green of earth, the crimson offire, and the purple of ocean—which caughtthe magicians fire-blast and scattered it onevery side in showers of sparks which did noevil. Again and again Allien mac Midnablew his venomous shafts, and each time themantle diverted them and rendered them harm-less. At last Allien knew that some one, whopossessed a greater magic than his, was defend-ing Tara that night, and full of baffled fury heturned and fled. When Fionn saw that the enchanter wasput to flight, he descended from the high bankof the rath and pursued him. Many miles hewent, and when he splashed through therippling waters of the B
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookidcu3192, booksubjectlegends
