among the clouds. It rose sheer from the water and appeared to be as smooth as glass. [On it there abutted a rock, solid and cylindrical, having sides more slipppery than an eel.] Thus far Foltlebar found the track of the Gilla Backer, but no farther. The Fianna felt sure that he must live on the summit, and Fergus suggested that Dermat O'Dyna, who had been fostered from childhood by Manannan in Fairyland and by Angus at Bruga of the Boyne, should be able to climb the cliff and bring back tidings. Dermat thereupon arose, put on his armour, and leaning on his two long spears, the Crann-boi and the Ga-derg, swung himself from ledge to ledge up the rock. Having scaled the dizzy height, he looked inland and saw a flowery plain spread before him. He set out to walk across it and soon came to a great tree laden with fruit, over-topping all the other trees of the plain. It was surrounded at a little distance by a circle of pillar-stones; and one stone, taller than the others, stood in the centre near the tree. Beside this pillar-stone was a spring well, with a large, round pool as clear as crystal; and the water bubbled up in the centre, and flowed away towards the middle of the plain in a slender stream.[1] [From east and west, from south and north, Duibhne's grandson traversed the plain and, as he looked abroad, was aware of a vast tree with interlacing boughs and thickly furnished; hard by which was a great mass of stone furnished on its very apex with an ornamented pointed drinking-horn, and having at its base a fair well of water in all its purity.] Dermat stooped to drink, but ere he could do so heard the heavy tread of a warlike host and the clank of their weapons. He sprang to his feet and looked round; but the noise had ceased, and he saw nothing. Again he stooped to drink, and again he heard the same sounds, but louder and nearer than before. Casting his eyes round in some perplexity, he saw on the top of the tall pillar-stone a large drinking-horn, chased with gold and enamelled with precious stones. He took it down and drank without hindrance till he had slaked his thirst. But now there came against him from the east a tall wizard-champion (gruagach) in full armour with a scarlet mantle and a golden crown. He addressed Dermat in an angry voice, and demanded instant satisfaction for this intrusion upon his island and his well. Dermat and he fell to fighting, and fought on furiously till evening came, when the wizard-champion sprang suddenly into the centre of his well and disappeared. Amazed and disappointed, Dermat walked towards the nearest point of a great forest, speared a deer, roasted it on hazel spits before a fire, which he kindled beneath a tree, and washed down his meal with water from the drinking-horn. [ [He made a hut of limbs, and slept quietly till dawn.] ] Next morning he slew another deer and drank again from the horn. Then, repairing to the well, found the wizard-champion there before him, standing
- ↑ On wells connected with rude stone monuments see W. C. Borlase The Dolmens of Ireland ii. 645, iii. 765, 768 ff., W. G. Wood-Martin Elder Faiths of Ireland ii. 86, J. R. Walker in the Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland Edinburgh 1883 v. 209.
