Now was Dermat without any weapon save the hilt of his sword, and the boar made a deadly onslaught, thrusting his tusk into the hero’s side. But with the strength that was left him Dermat flung the hilt of the sword at the brute’s head, and it pierced his skull and entered his brain, whereupon the boar fell dead.
But so deep was the wound in Dermat’s side that when Finn came to him he found the hero near unto death.
And Finn said, ‘Now am I well content, for thine end hath come.’
‘Sure the words that thou speakest come not from thine heart,’ answered Dermat, ‘for it is in thy power to heal me, and that thou knowest full well.’
‘How might I heal thee?’ asked Finn.
‘Thou knowest that power was given thee to heal him who might be at the point of death. Let him but drink water from the palms of thy closed hands, and he is healed of his hurt.’
‘Yet wherefore should I heal thee who hast worked me nought but ill?’
‘Thou wouldst not speak thus wert thou mindful of the day when I saved thee from the flames. Thou wast bidden to a banquet, and ere the feast began the palace was set a-fire by those who wished thee ill. And I and my men rushed forth and quenched the flames and slew thy foes. Had I begged water from thy hands that night thou hadst not said me nay.’
‘Thou forgettest that but for thee the fair Grania were my wedded wife.’
‘Of a surety am I not blameworthy in this matter, O Finn, for Grania laid upon me a solemn vow that I should follow her from Tara ere thou shouldst wake from thy sleep. And I took counsel of many nobles, and there was not one but said, “Even though death come of it, thou canst not depart from the solemn vow that Grania hath laid upon thee.” And now, I pray of thee, let me drink from thine hands, else surely death will overtake me in this place. From many another deadly strait have I delivered thee, yet hast thou forgotten them all. But the hour will come when surely thou wilt need my help shouldst thou let me die this day. Yet grieve I not to think that thou wilt be in deadly strait, but rather grieve I for those true heroes whom I shall no longer aid.’