’"May that be for prosperity,” said Conall; “may it be for victory and triumph.”

’"Go to the fort, O Conall, and leave me to watch here now,” said Cuchulainn.

’"It will be enough,” said Conall, “if it is to protect any one with poetry; if it is to fight against a man, it is early for you yet.”

’"Perhaps it may not be necessary at all,” said Cuchulainn.  “Let us go meanwhile,” said Cuchulainn, “to look upon the edge of Loch Echtra.  Heroes are wont to abide there.”

’"I am content,” said Conall.

’Then they go thence.  He throws a stone from his sling, so that a pole of Conall Cernach’s chariot breaks.

’"Why have you thrown the stone, O boy?” said Conall.

“To try my hand and the straightness of my throw,” said Cuchulainn; “and it is the custom with you Ulstermen, that you do not travel beyond your peril.  Go back to Emain, O friend Conall, and leave me here to watch.”

’"Content, then,” said Conall.

’Conall Cernach did not go past the place after that.  Then Cuchulainn goes forth to Loch Echtra, and they found no one there before them.  The charioteer said to Cuchulainn that they should go to Emain, that they might be in time for the drinking there.

’"No,” said Cuchulainn.  “What mountain is it yonder?” said Cuchulainn.

’"Sliab Monduirn,” said the charioteer.

’"Let us go and get there,” said Cuchulainn.  They go then till they reach it.  When they had reached the mountain, Cuchulainn asked:  “What is the white cairn yonder on the top of the mountain?”

’"Find Carn,” said the charioteer.

’"What plain is that over there?” said Cuchulainn.

’"Mag Breg,” said the charioteer.  He tells him then the name of every chief fort between Temair and Cenandas.  He tells him first their meadows and their fords, their famous places and their dwellings, their fortresses and their high hills.  He shows [Note:  Reading with YBL.] him then the fort of the three sons of Nechta Scene; Foill, Fandall, and Tuachell were their names.

’"Is it they who say,” said Cuchulainn, “that there are not more of the Ulstermen alive than they have slain of them?”

’"It is they indeed,” said the charioteer.

’"Let us go till we reach them,” said Cuchulainn.

’"Indeed it is peril to us,” said the charioteer.

’"Truly it is not to avoid it that we go,” said Cuchulainn.

’Then they go forth and unharness their horses at the meeting of the bog and the river, to the south above the fort of the others; and he threw the withe that was on the pillar as far as he could throw into the river and let it go with the stream, for this was a breach of geis to the sons of Nechta Scene.  They perceive it then, and come to them.  Cuchulainn goes to sleep by the pillar after throwing the withe at the stream; and he said to the charioteer:  “Do not waken me for few; but waken me for many.”