Cormac Mac Art 207

That story was true, and a second quarter of the pig was
cooked.

Cormac was bidden now to tell a story for his quarter, and
he told how he was upon a search for his wife, his son and
’ his daughter that had been borne away from him a year
before by a youth with a fairy branch. :

‘Tf what thou sayest be true,” said the man of the house,
“thou art indeed Cormac, son of Art, son of Conn of the ©
Hundred Battles.”

“Truly I am,” quoth Cormac.

That story was true, and a quarter of the pig was
cooked.

‘‘ Eat thy meal now,” said the man of the house.

“T never ate before,” said Cormac, “ having only two people
in my company.”

“‘Wouldst thou eat it with three others ? ”

“Tf they were dear to me, I would,” said Cormac.

Then the door opened, and there entered the wife and
children of Cormac: great was his joy and his exulta-
tion.

Then Manannan mac Lir, lord of the fairy Cavalcade,
appeared before him in his own true form, and said
thus :

“ T it was, Cormac, who bore away these three from thee.
I it was who gave thee this branch, all that I might bring
thee here. Eat now and drink.”

“‘T would do so,” said Cormac, ‘could I learn the meaning
of the wonders I saw to-day.”

“Thou shalt learn them,” said Manannan, ‘‘ The horse-
men thatching the roof with feathers are a likeness of people