him read the volume that has been written of the saint's life.

CHAPTER XC.

_The River is Divided in Twain, and Blessed._

On a certain time Saint Patrick came unto a deep and impassable river
named Boallus; and as neither boat nor vessel was at hand, he prayed
and divided the river in twain, and made unto himself and his followers
a free passage. And raising his right hand, he blessed the river, and
even to this day the eastern part of the stream can be passed by
horsemen and by footmen; yet over the western part cannot any pass
unless in some vessel. And being so blessed, this river abounded in
fishes beyond all others. Then to his disciples marvelling, and
seeking to know the cause of this so great miracle, did the saint
answer: "The yet unborn son of life, who will be named Columba, after
the lapse of many years will live in this place, and the water thus
divided will, for several purposes, be needful unto him and his
fellow-militants in Christ, while its abundance of fishes will minister
food unto his brethren." And Saint Columba being after many years
born, when he became a man builded there a stately monastery, and by
his dwelling and by his works approved the prophecy of Patrick.

CHAPTER XCI.

_The Prophecy that Patrick made unto Connedus._

And Saint Patrick visited the country of the Turturini, where he abided
for the space of seven weeks; and in that little space builded he seven
churches, one whereof he called the Lord's Church. For this was his
custom: that wheresoever he abided on the Lord's day, if he founded a
church there, he called it Domnhach--that is, belonging to the Lord.
And over one of these seven churches he appointed one of his disciples
named Connedus, a good and holy man, by degree a presbyter, and learned
in the divine law. And he, undertaking the government of this church
rather from obedience than from ambition, abided there only one week,
and then quitting it hastened to Saint Patrick. And the saint
enquiring the cause of his so speedy return, he answered that he could
not patiently endure the absence of his beloved father. "Nor is it to
be wondered," replied the saint, "since in that place there are not
children of life, but men of blood and devourers of cattle, of whose
sword thou standest in dread, and fearest that thy blood will be poured
out. Return, return securely, nor tremble before their face; for the
blood of no man shall in that place be shed, even