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Now, this meeting and challenge in the wood came to the ears of Angus Og in Brugh on the Boyne. He feared that his foster-son Diarmuid was in the greatest danger, so he set out on a clear cold wind and did not rest till he came secretly into Two-Hut-Wood.

'Let each of you come under the border of my cloak,' said he to the lovers, 'and I will fetch you from here without the knowledge of Finn and the Fianna.'

Grainne agreed but Diarmuid would not go. So Angus put her into the shadow of his cloak and away they fled to Two-Willow-Point at Limerick. But Diarmuid stood straight as a pillar and armed himself. He went to the first of the seven gates and called out, 'Who is there?'

'No enemy of yours,' was the answer, 'but only Oisin and Oscar. Come forth to us without harm.'

'I will not,' said Diarmuid, 'for I seek Finn.'

He went from gate to gate, finding friends only, till he came to the gate held by the sons of Navin.

'Come out,' they cried, 'and we will mark you with swords and spears.'

'No fear of you, you sour-faced sniffing dogs, keeps me within,' replied Diarmuid, 'but your blood would be a stink on my weapon.'

He went to the last gate and heard from beyond a loud voice that said, 'Finn Mac Cool and the men of the Fianna are here. No love awaits you. Come without and we will spill the marrow from your bones.'

But Diarmuid rose on the shaft of his spears and jumped high and lightly far over the heads of Finn's people. They did not see him, and in a moment he was on his way to Two-Willow-Point. And there he found Angus Og and Grainne in the snug of a hut, with a fire ablaze and the half of a wild pig turning on the spit. And when Grainne saw him, the life all but went out of her for joy.

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