’Now the charioteer was very frightened, and he made ready their chariot and pulled its coverings and skins which were over Cuchulainn; for he dared not waken him, because Cuchulainn told him at first that he should not waken him for a few.

’Then come the sons of Nechta Scene.

’"Who is it who is there?” said one of them.

’"A little boy who has come to-day into the chariot for an expedition,” said the charioteer.

’"May it not be for his happiness,” said the champion; “and may it not be for his prosperity, his first taking of arms.  Let him not be in our land, and let the horses not graze there any more,” said the champion.

’"Their reins are in my hands,” said the charioteer.

’"It should not be yours to earn hatred,” said Ibar to the champion; “and the boy is asleep.”

’"I am not a boy at all,” said Cuchulainn; “but it is to seek battle with a man that the boy who is here has come.”

’"That pleases me well,” said the champion.

’"It will please you now in the ford yonder,” said Cuchulainn.

’"It befits you,” said the charioteer, “take heed of the man who comes against you.  Foill is his name,” said he; “for unless you reach him in the first thrust, you will not reach him till evening.”

’"I swear by the god by whom my people swear, he will not ply his skill on the Ulstermen again, if the broad spear of my friend Conchobar should reach him from my hand.  It will be an outlaw’s hand to him.”

’Then he cast the spear at him, so that his back broke.  He took with him his accoutrements and his head.

’"Take heed of another man,” said the charioteer, “Fandall [Note:  i.e.  ‘Swallow.’] is his name.  Not more heavily does he traverse(?) the water than swan or swallow.”

’"I swear that he will not ply that feat again on the Ulstermen,” said Cuchulainn.  “You have seen,” said he, “the way I travel the pool at Emain.”

’They meet then in the ford.  Cuchulainn kills that man, and took his head and his arms.

’"Take heed of another man who comes towards you,” said the charioteer.  “Tuachell [Note:  i.e.  ‘Cunning.’] is his name.  It is no misname for him, for he does not fall by arms at all.”

’"Here is the javelin for him to confuse him, so that it may make a red-sieve of him,” said Cuchulainn.

’He cast the spear at him, so that it reached him in his ——.  Then He went to him and cut off his head.  Cuchulainn gave his head and his accoutrements to his own charioteer.  He heard then the cry of their mother, Nechta Scene, behind them.

’He puts their spoils and the three heads in his chariot with him, and said:  “I will not leave my triumph,” said he, “till I reach Emain Macha.” ’then they set out with his triumph.

’Then Cuchulainn said to the charioteer:  “You promised us a good run,” said he, “and we need it now because of the strife and the pursuit that is behind us.”  They go on to Sliab Fuait; and such was the speed of the run that they made over Breg after the spurring of the charioteer, that the horses of the chariot overtook the wind and the birds in flight, and that Cuchulainn caught the throw that he sent from his sling before it reached the ground.