n in the land
of Erin?"

"Good is his reign," replied Fer rogain. "Since he assumed the kingship,
no cloud has veiled the sun for the space of a day from the middle of
spring to the middle of autumn. And not a dewdrop fell from grass till
midday, and wind would not touch a beast's tail until nones. And in his
reign, from year's end to year's end, no wolf has attacked aught save
one bullcalf of each byre; and to maintain this rule there are seven
wolves in hostageship at the sidewall in his house, and behind this a
further security, even Maclocc, and 'tis he that pleads for them in
Conaire's house. In Conaire's reign are the three crowns on Erin,
namely, crown of corn-ears, and crown of flowers, and crown of oak mast.
In his reign, too, each man deems the other's voice as melodious as the
strings of lutes, because of the excellence of the law and the peace
and the goodwill prevailing throughout Erin. May God not bring that man
there tonight! 'Tis sad to destroy him. 'Tis _'a branch through its
blossom,'_ 'Tis _a swine that falls before mast._ 'Tis _an infant in
age._ Sad is the shortness of his life!"

"This was my luck," says Ingcel, "that he should be there, and there
should be one Destruction for another. It were not more grievous to me
than my father and my mother and my seven brothers, and the king of my
country, whom I gave up to you before coming on the transfer of
the rapine."

"'Tis true, 'tis true!" say the evildoers who were along with the
reavers.

The reavers make a start from the Strand of Fuirbthe, and bring a stone
for each man to make a cairn; for this was the distinction which at
first the Fians made between a "Destruction" and a "Rout." A
pillar-stone they used to plant when there would be a Rout. A cairn,
however, they used to make when there would be a Destruction. At this
time, then, they made a cairn, for it was a Destruction. Far from the
house was this, that they might not be heard or seen therefrom.

For two causes they built their cairn, namely, first, since this was a
custom in marauding, and, secondly, that they might find out their
losses at the Hostel. Every one that would come safe from it would take
his stone from the cairn: thus the stones of those that were slain would
be left, and thence they would know their losses. And this is what men
skilled in story recount, that for every stone in Carn leca there was
one of the reavers killed at the Hostel. From that cairn Leca in Hui
Cell