Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-10-26


Ireland.
.Cuhals son joined the brightly
garmented throng that were on
the way. He went as the foster
son of the king whose wife was
Cuhals widow.
And thanks to his training by
Finnecas he had words and ad-
dress that fitted him to COM
panion mobiles and men of learn
ing. And there was FiHnecas
HIMSELF
They mounted the path that
went up to the palisade. Guards
In ieathern jenkins and otter
skin caps showed those who were
kingly or noble. learned or
skilled, their several guest
houses. The foster-son of the
King of Kerry was given a place
with other youthful nobilities.
Then came the banquet and
Cuhals son looked on King Cor
mac and on his captain, Coll
MacMorna.
He could not help but acknowl-
edge that the one who sat at the
head of the banqueting-hall,
Cormac of the Long Beard, was
royal looking man. And he
had TO acknowledge. too. that the
one who, with his captains, sat
at a table alongside Cormac's.
Coll MacMorna. was not the ruff
fianly-looking fellow he had ex-
pected to see.
But for all the grandeur and
glee Of the feast there was
trouble on the face Of the king
and trouble on the faces Of men
in different parts Of the hall.
And when the famous mead Of
Tara had circled around the
tables, the king struck the silver
chain that was across where he
sat so that silence came on all.
Then COrmac SAID.
Our glee from the Feast of
Samain Is lessened because Of
what happened on the night of
the last feast and what may hap
pen this night. AS much of our
halls and fortresses were de-
stroyed as could be destroyed be-
tween midnight and daybreak.
Tara will be guarded tonight as
1t was guarded on the last feast
1T will be guarded by Coll Mac
Norma and the Fian of Ireland.
We and our household will re-
main in Tara, but for our guests
there are hostels outside the
palisade."
II was then that Cuhal's son
stood up IAN that an untried
youth can do to guard Tara /
will do" he said. His voice was
so ringing that 10 all present 1t
seemed as IL one who had the
right to be heard spoken.
But at the table at which Coll
MacMorna sat with his COM
panions there was laughter.
who are you. youth ?" King
Corrnac asked. Where is your
territory? What is your line
age?"
II have no territory" said
Cuhars son. but my lineage is
from Trenmor." When he said
that there were murmurs and
movements in the hall. They
had believed, all who were there,
that the lineage of Trenmor had
ended with Cuhal.
II am Cuhal's som" Those bold
words resounded through the
hall. and then all saw that Coll
MacMorna was up and was fac
ing towards where the tall. fair,
bright-haired youth was standing.
II ask the youth who has
spoken 10 come to the kings
seat" The voice that said the
word, King Cormac's voice, had
both gentleness and command in
IL.
He went up the banqueting-
hall. Those at the tables saw
how fair his skin, how bright
his hair was. and they -ex-
claimed "Finn!' meaning the
Fair"
When he stood before him
Cormac of the Long Beard looked
into his eyes. He saw they had
steadiness. that they were the
eyes Of one who had faced danger
Here was one who was no fall
terer-Cormac who was wont
10 Judge men saw that. But he
could make clearer judgment OF
him when he had spoken, when
he knew what was in the youths
mind He said in that voice OF
his that had both gentleness and
command:
IF you help to save Tara from
Aillin's fire, what reward will
you claim ?"
THAT Cuhal's name and the