’When they reached Sliab Fuait, they found a herd of wild deer there before them.

’"What are those cattle yonder so active?” said Cuchulainn.

’"Wild deer,” said the charioteer.

’"Which would the Ulstermen think best,” said Cuchulainn, “to bring them dead or alive?”

’"It is more wonderful alive,” said the charioteer; “it is not every one who can do it so.  Dead, there is not one of them who cannot do it.  You cannot do this, to carry off any of them alive,” said the charioteer.

’"I can indeed,” said Cuchulainn.  “Ply the goad on the horses into the bog.”

’The charioteer does this.  The horses stick in the bog.  Cuchulainn sprang down and seized the deer that was nearest, and that was the finest of them.  He lashed the horses through the bog, and overcame the deer at once, and bound it between the two poles of the chariot.

’They saw something again before them, a flock of swans.

’"Which would the Ulstermen think best,” said Cuchulainn, “to have them dead or alive?”

’"All the most vigorous and finest(?) bring them alive,” said the charioteer.

’Then Cuchulainn aims a small stone at the birds, so that he struck eight of the birds.  He threw again a large stone, so that he struck twelve of them.  All that was done by his return stroke.

“Collect the birds for us,” said Cuchulainn to his charioteer.  “If it is I who go to take them,” said he, “the wild deer will spring upon you.”

’"It is not easy for me to go to them,” said the charioteer.  “The horses have become wild so that I cannot go past them.  I cannot go past the two iron tyres [Interlinear gloss, fonnod.  The fonnod was some part of the rim of the wheel apparently.] of the chariot, because of their sharpness; and I cannot go past the deer, for his horn has filled all the space between the two poles of the chariot.”

’"Step from its horn,” said Cuchulainn.  “I swear by the god by whom the Ulstermen swear, the bending with which I will bend my head on him, and the eye that I will make at him, he will not turn his head on you, and he will not dare to move.”

’That was done then.  Cuchulainn made fast the reins, and the charioteer collects the birds.  Then Cuchulainn bound the birds from the strings and thongs of the chariot; so that it was thus he went to Emain Macha:  the wild deer behind his chariot, and the flock of swans flying over it, and the three heads in his chariot.  Then they come to Emain.

“A man in a chariot is coming to you,” said the watchman in Emain Macha; “he will shed the blood of every man who is in the court, unless heed is taken, and unless naked women go to him.”

’Then he turned the left side of his chariot towards Emain, and that was a geis [Note:  i.e. it was an insult.] to it; and Cuchulainn said:  “I swear by the god by whom the Ulstermen swear, unless a man is found to fight with me, I will shed the blood of every one who is in the fort.”