truction that the sons of Donn Desa should choose in Alba
and Britain.

A lot was cast upon them to see with which of them they should go first.
It fell that they should go with Ingcel to his country. So they made for
Britain, and there his father and mother and his seven brothers were
slain, as we have said before. Thereafter they made for Alba, and there
they wrought the destruction, and then they returned to Erin.

'Tis then, now, that Conaire son of Eterscel went towards the Hostel
along the Road of Cualu.

'Tis then that the reavers came till they were in the sea off the coast
of Bregia overagainst Howth.

Then said the reavers: "Strike the sails, and make one band of you on
the sea that ye may not be sighted from land; and let some lightfoot be
found from among you to go on shore to see if we could save our honors
with Ingcel. A destruction for the destruction he has given us."

"Who will go on shore to listen? Let some one go," says Ingcel, "who
should have there the three gifts, namely gift of hearing, gift of far
sight, and gift of judgment."

"I," says Mane Honeyworded, "have the gift of hearing."

"And I," says Mane Unslow, "have the gift of far sight and of judgment."

"'Tis well for you to go thus," say the reavers: "good is that wise."

Then nine men go on till they were on the Hill of Howth, to know what
they might hear and see.

"Be still a while!" says Mane Honeyworded.

"What is that?" asks Mane Unslow.

"The sound of a good king's cavalcade I hear."

"By the gift of far sight, I see," quoth his comrade.

"What seest thou here?"

"I see there," quoth he, "cavalcades splendid, lofty, beautiful,
warlike, foreign, somewhat slender, weary, active, keen, whetted,
vehement, a good course that shakes a great covering of land. They fare
to many heights, with wondrous waters and invers[7]."

[Footnote 7: Mouths of rivers.]

"What are the waters and heights and invers that they traverse?"

"Easy to say: Indeoin, Cult, Cuilten, Mafat, Ammat, Iarmafat, Finne,
Goiste, Guistine. Gray spears over chariots: ivory-hilted swords on
thighs: silvery shields above their elbows. Half red and half white.
Garments of every color about them.

"Thereafter I see before them special cattle specially keen, to wit,
thrice fifty dark-gray steeds. Small-headed are they, red-nosed,
pointed, broad-hoofed, big-nosed, red-chested, fat, easily-stopt,
easily-yoked, foray-nimble, keen, whetted, vehement, with their th