SEPTEMBER 241 



then shall my first-born, if he lists, purchase his life from 

 you : for ye are the conquerors.' 



So they took the aged Pict and his two younger sons 

 and cut their throats. Then Niall-of-the-Nine-Hostages 

 commanded Trost, the first-born, to fulfil his part in the 

 bloody pact. 



Now there was with Niall a certain Pictish arch-druid, 

 Sionach the Fox, a traitor to his people. Trost told the 

 king that the secret could not pass from his lips to any 

 but one of his own race ; only to Sionach the arch-druid 

 could he reveal it. 'Three boons a man may ask from 

 a king,' replied Niall, ' and no more. Thou hast had two 

 the death of thy father and brothers and thine own 

 life. This third will I grant, but beware how you try me 

 further ! Sionach, we will withdraw a space. Keep your 

 sword in hand. This man is unarmed ; he cannot harm 

 you.' 



He motioned back the crowd ; Sionach and Trost were 

 left standing alone. Trost, with his hands behind his 

 back, turned to walk along the brow, the druid following 

 warily. 



But not warily enough to baffle the Pictish hunter. 

 Where the sea-clift' is steepest, the brink most abrupt, 

 Trost turned like a flash, wrapped his sinewy arms round 

 Sionach,' and cried, as they fell into the abyss, 'Revenge! 

 the secret dies ! ' There was a hissing splash in the deep 

 green water beside the Black Rocks, a cry of baffled rage 

 from the angry multitude, for in that circle of white foam, 

 slowly drifting away on the tide, was buried for ever the 

 secret of brewing heather ale. 



Thirsty fisher-folk, when the summer sea reflects and 

 doubles the power of the flaming sun, often turn their 

 Q 



