OISIN’SMOTHER
CHAPTERI
EVENINGwasdrawingnigh，andtheFianna-Finnhaddecidedtohuntnomorethatday。Thehoundswerewhistledtoheel，andasober，homewardmarchbegan。Formenwillwalksoberlyintheevening，howevertheygointheday，anddogswilltakethemoodfromtheirmasters。Theywerepacingso，throughthegolden-shafted，tender-colouredeve，whenafawnleapedsuddenlyfromcovert，and，withthatleap，allquietnessvanished：themenshouted，thedogsgavetongue，andafuriouschasecommenced。
Fionnlovedachaseatanyhour，and，withBranandSceo’lan，heoutstrippedthemenanddogsofhistroop，untilnothingremainedinthelimpidworldbutFionn，thetwohounds，andthenimble，beautifulfawn。These，andtheoccasionalboulders，roundwhichtheyraced，oroverwhichtheyscrambled；thesolitarytreewhichdozedaloofandbeautifulinthepath，theoccasionalclumpoftreesthathivedsweetshadowasahivehoardshoney，andtherustlinggrassthatstretchedtoinfinity，andthatmovedandcreptandswungunderthebreezeinendless，rhythmicbillowings。
InhiswildestmomentFionnwasthoughtful，andnow，althoughrunninghard，hewasthoughtful。Therewasnomovementofhisbelovedhoundsthathedidnotknow；notatwitchorflingofthehead，notacockoftheearsortailthatwasnotsignificanttohim。Butonthischasewhateversignsthedogsgavewerenotunderstoodbytheirmaster。