Then the Fianna set out, and they went to the borders of Ciarraighe Luachra and across by the shores of the Bannlid with their left hand to Slieve Mis, and they made shelters for themselves that night, and kindled fires.

But Caoilte and Oisin and Lugaidh’s Son said to one another they would go on to the harbour, the way they would have time to redden their hands in the blood of the foreigners before the rest of the Fianna would come.

And at that time the King of the World bade some of his chief men to go on shore and to bring him back some spoils.  So they went to land and they gave out a great shout, and the people of the ships gave out a great shout at the same time.  “I swear by the oath my people swear by,” said Caoilte, “I have gone round the whole world, but I never heard so many voices together in the one place.”  And with that he himself and Oisin and Lugaidh’s Son made an attack on the strangers, and struck great blows at them.  And when Conn Crither and Glas, son of Bremen, heard the noise of those blows, they knew they were struck by some of the Fianna of Ireland, and they came and joined with them, and did great destruction on the strangers, till there was not one left of all that had come to land.

CHAPTER VII.  THE FIRST FIGHTERS

And in the morning they saw Finn and all his people coming to the rath that is above the harbour.  “My father Finn,” said Oisin than, “let us fight now with the whole of the foreigners altogether.”  “That is not my advice,” said Finn, “for the number of their armies is too great for us, and we could not stand against them.  But we will send out every day,” he said, “some son of a king or of a leader against some king of the kings of the world that is equal in blood to ourselves.  And let none of you redden your arms,” he said, “but against a king or a chief man at first, for when a king is fallen, his people will be more inclined to give way.  And who will give out a challenge of battle from me now?” he said.  “I will do that,” said the son of Cuban, leader of the Fianna of Munster.  “Do not go, my son,” said Finn, “for it is not showed to me that you will have good luck in the battle, and I never sent out any man to fight without I knew he would come back safe to me.”  “Do not say that,” said Cuban’s son, “for I would not for the treasure of the whole world go back from a fight on account of a bad foretelling.  And as it is my own country they have done their robbery in first,” he said, “I will defend it for you.”  “It is sorrowful I am for that,” said Finn, “for whichever of the kings of the world will meet you to-day, yourself and himself will fall together.”