he lived for a whole year, with her lap-dog, in a chamber beneath the
lake, and God protected her from the water. At the end of that time she
was weary, and when she saw the speckled salmon swimming and playing all
round her, she prayed to be changed into a salmon that she might swim
with the others through the green, salt sea. Her prayer was granted; she
took the shape of a salmon, except her face and breast, which did not
change. And her lap-dog was changed into an otter, and attended her
afterwards whithersoever she went as long as she lived in the sea.

It is nearly eight hundred years ago since the story was transcribed
from some old authority into the "Book of the Dun Cow," the oldest
manuscript of Gaelic literature we possess.--Joyce's "Old Celtic
Romances," p. 97.

* * * * *

II

_The House in the Lake_

In the Irish annals lake dwellings, which were formerly common in
Ireland, are called _crannogs_, from _crann_, a tree, either because of
the timber framework of which the island was formed or of the wooden
huts erected thereon.

Some _crannogs_ appear to have been veritable islands, the only means
of communication with the land being canoes. Remains of these have been
frequently found near the dwelling, in some instances alongside the
landing stage, as if sunk at their moorings.

"Favorite sites for _crannogs_ were marshes, small loughs surrounded
by woods and large sheets of water. As providing good fishing grounds
the entrance to or exit of a stream from a lake was eagerly
selected."--"Lake Dwellings of Ireland," Col. Wood Martin, M.R.I.A.

* * * * *

III

_Brian's Water-dress_

Brian, Ur, and Urcar, the three sons of Turenn, were Dedanaan chiefs.
They slew Kian, the father of Luga of the Long Arms, who was grandson
of Balor of the Evil Eye. Luga imposed an extraordinary eric fine on
the sons of Turenn, part of which was "the cooking-spit of the women of
Fincara." For a quarter of a year Brian and his brothers sailed hither
and thither over the wide ocean, landing on many shores, seeking tidings
of the Island of Fincara. At last they met a very old man, who told them
that the island lay deep down in the waters, having been sunk beneath
the waves by a spell in times long past.

Then Brian put on his water-dress, with his helmet of transparent
crystal on his head, telling his brothers to wait his return. He leaped
over the side of