‘You shall have Findabair,’ said Medb, ’for going against that man yonder.’

‘I will do it,’ said he.

Lugaid comes to Cuchulainn that night.

’Nadcrantail is coming to meet you to-morrow; it is unlucky for you:  you will not withstand him.’

‘That does not matter,’ said Cuchulainn. ... [Note:  Corrupt.]

Nadcrantail goes next morning from the camp, and he takes nine spits of holly, sharpened and burned.  Now Cuchulainn was there catching birds, and his chariot near him.  Nadcrantail throws a spear at Cuchulainn; Cuchulainn performed a feat on to the point of that spear, and it did not hinder him from catching the birds.  The same with the eight other spears.  When he throws the ninth spear, the flock flies from Cuchulainn, and he went after the flock.  He goes on the points of the spears like a bird, from each spear to the next, pursuing the birds that they should not escape.  It seemed to every one, however, that it was in flight that Cuchulainn went before Nadcrantail.

‘Your Cuchulainn yonder,’ said he, ‘has gone in flight before me.’

‘That is of course,’ said Medb; ’if good warriors should come to him, the wild boy would not resist ——.’

This vexed Fergus and the Ulstermen; Fiacha Mac Fir-Febe comes from them to remonstrate with Cuchulainn.

‘Tell him,’ said Fergus, ’it was noble to be before the warriors while he did brave deeds.  It is more noble for him,’ said Fergus, ’to hide himself when he flees before one man, for it were not greater shame to him than to the rest of Ulster.’

‘Who has boasted that?’ said Cuchulainn.

‘Nadcrantail,’ said Fiacha.

’Though it were that that he should boast, the feat that I have done before him, it was no more shame to me,’ (?) said Cuchulainn.  ’He would by no means have boasted it had there been a weapon in his hand.  You know full well that I kill no one unarmed.  Let him come to-morrow,’ said Cuchulainn, ’till he is between Ochaine and the sea, and however early he comes, he will find me there, and I shall not flee before him.’

Cuchulainn came then to his appointed meeting-place, and he threw the hem [of his cloak] round him after his night-watch, and he did not perceive the pillar that was near him, of equal size with himself.  He embraced it under his cloak, and placed it near him.

Therewith Nadcrantail came; his arms were brought with him in a wagon.

‘Where is Cuchulainn?’ said he.

‘There he is yonder,’ said Fergus.

‘It was not thus he appeared to me yesterday,’ said Nadcrantail.

‘Are you Cuchulainn?’

‘And if I am then?’ said Cuchulainn.

‘If you are indeed,’ said Nadcrantail, ’I cannot bring the head of a little lamb to camp; I will not take the head of a beardless boy.’

‘It is not I at all,’ said Cuchulainn.  ‘Go to him round the hill.’

Cuchulainn comes to Loeg:  ‘Smear a false beard on me,’ said he; ‘I cannot get the warrior to fight me without a beard.’  It was done for him.  He goes to meet him on the hill.  ’I think that more fitting,’ said he.