35.  On yet another occasion Declan was in his own region—­travelling over Slieve Gua in the Decies, when his horse from some cause got lame so that he could proceed no further.  Declan however, seeing a herd of deer roaming the mountain close to him, said to one of his people:  “Go, and bring me for my chariot one of these deer to replace my horse and take with you this halter for him.”  Without any misgiving the disciple went on till he reached the deer which waited quietly for him.  He chose the animal which was largest and therefore strongest, and, bringing him back, yoked him to the chariot.  The deer thereupon obediently and without effort carried Bishop Declan till he came to Magh Femhin, where, when he reached a house of entertainment, the saint unloosed the stag and bade him to go free as was his nature.  Accordingly, at the command of the saintly man and in the presence of all, the stag returned on the same road back (to the mountain).  Dormanach is the name of the man aforesaid who brought the stag to Declan and him Declan blessed and gave him a piece of land on the north of Decies close by the Eoghanacht and his posterity live till now in that place.

36.  On another occasion, Declan, accompanied, as usual, by a large following, was travelling, when one member of the party fell on the road and broke his shin bone in twain.  Declan saw the accident and, pitying the injured man, he directed an individual of the company to bandage the broken limb so that the sufferer might not die through excess of pain and loss of blood.  All replied that they could not endure to dress the wound owing to their horror thereof.  But there was one of the company, Daluadh by name, who faced the wound boldly and confidently and said:  “In the name of Christ and of Declan our patron I shall be surgeon to this foot”; and he said that jestingly.  Nevertheless he bandaged the foot carefully and blessed it aright in the name of God and Declan, and in a little while the wound healed and they all gave praise to God.  Then Declan said to Daluadh:  “You promised to be surgeon to that foot in Christ’s name and in mine and God has vouchsafed to heal it at these words:  on this account you will be a true physician for ever and your children and your seed after you for ever shall also possess the healing art, and whomsoever they shall practise healing upon in God’s name and mine, provided there be no hatred [in their hearts] nor too great covetousness of a physician’s fee to him, God and myself shall send relief.”  This promise of Declan has been fulfilled in the case of that family.

37.  On another occasion, as Declan was travelling in the northern part of Magh Femhin beside the Suir, he met there a man who was carrying a little infant to get it baptised.  Declan said to the people [his “muinntear,” or following]:  “Wait here till I baptise yonder child,” for it was revealed by the Holy Ghost to him that he [the babe] should serve God.  The attendant