would be there on the morrow, if, tarrying not, they walked on through the
dark night. But Concobar's messengers would follow the hounds, thinking so
to capture Nathos.

'By dawn, Deirdre, shall we reach the castle, and there may we rest in
safety one day and one night. Then must we set out for the hills and lochs
of Alba, and with us Ailne and Ardan, for if the King cometh and findeth
me fled, then will he slay my brothers.'

On and on they sped, through the forest, across the Moor of Loneliness, up
the glens and gorges, and over the hills. Above glimmered the pale stars,
around them was the screech and the moan of wakeful bird and beast.

It was not till the dawn broke that they rested on the mountain-side.
There they stayed till the pink stole through the grey, and the sky
gleamed mother-o'-pearl. Then they rose and followed the stream that
trickled to the valley below. And now Nathos was glad.

'Look, Deirdre, yonder stands the castle of the sons of Usna.' And with
that he gave a cry known by the brothers each of the other, and Ailne and
Ardan came forth gladly. But when they stood before Deirdre, so great was
their wonder at her exceeding beauty, that they stood spell-bound and
uttered no word.

Then Nathos spake: 'The fair maiden whom ye behold is none other than
Deirdre, the daughter of Felim the Harper. From this day I hold her as my
wedded wife, and to you she cometh as a sister.'

But when the brothers heard, they were filled with fear, for had not the
King Concobar vowed that this same fair maid should be his Queen? And had