This is uninhabited save for herds of sheep and oxen. They land on it and eat their fill, and one of them sees there a large falcon. “This falcon,” he says, “is [pg 330] like the falcons of Ireland.” “Watch it,” says Maeldūn, “and see how it will go from us.” It flew off to the south-east, and they rowed after it all day till vespers.
The Home-coming
At nightfall they sighted a land like Ireland; and soon came to a small island, where they ran their prow ashore. It was the island where dwelt the man who had slain Ailill.
They went up to the dūn that was on the island, and heard men talking within it as they sat at meat. One man said:
“It would be ill for us if we saw Maeldūn now.”
“That Maeldūn has been drowned,” said another.
“Maybe it is he who shall waken you from sleep to-night,” said a third.
“If he should come now,” said a fourth, “what should we do?”
“Not hard to answer that,” said the chief of them. “Great welcome should he have if he were to come, for he hath been a long space in great tribulation.”
Then Maeldūn smote with the wooden clapper against the door. “Who is there?” asked the doorkeeper.