“I will not play,” then said Eochy, “unless we play for a stake.”

“For what stake shall we play, then?” said Midir.

“I care not,” said Eochy; “but do thou perform tasks for me if I win and I shall bestow of my treasures upon thee if I lose.”

So they played a game, and Eochy won.  Then Eochy bade Midir clear the plains of Meath about Tara from rocks and stones, and Midir brought at night a great host of the Fairy Folk, and it was done.  And again he played with Eochy, and again he lost, and this time he cut down the forest of Breg.  The third time Midir lost again, and his task was to build a causeway across the moor of Lamrach.  Now at night, while Midir and the fairy host were labouring at the causeway and their oxen drawing to it innumerable loads of earth and gravel, the steward of Eochy stole out and hid himself to watch them, for it was a prohibition to see them at work.  And he observed that the fairy oxen were not harnessed with a thong across their foreheads, that the pull might be upon their brows and necks, as was the manner with the Gael, but with yokes upon their shoulders.  This he reported to Eochy, who found it good; and he ordered that henceforth the children of the Gael should harness their plough-oxen with the yoke upon their shoulders; and so it was done from that day forth.  Hence Eochy got his name of Airem, or “The Ploughman,” for he was the first of the Gael to put the yoke upon the shoulder of the ox.

But it was said that because the Fairy Folk were watched as they made that noble causeway, there came a breach in it at one place which none could ever rightly mend.

When all their works were accomplished, Midir came again to Eochy, and this time he bore a dark and fierce countenance and was high girt as for war.  And the King welcomed him, and Midir said, “Thou hast treated me hardly and put slavish tasks upon me.  All that seemed good to thee have I done, but now I am moved with anger against thee.”

“I return not anger for anger,” said Eochy; “say what satisfaction I can make thee.”

“Let us once more play at chess,” said Midir.

“Good,” said Eochy, “and what stake wilt thou have now?”

“The stake to be whatever the winner shall demand,” said Midir.

Then they played for the fourth time and Eochy lost.

“Thou hast won the game,” said he.

“I had won long ago had I chosen,” said Midir.

“What dost thou demand of me?” said Eochy.

“To hold Etain in my arms and obtain a kiss from her,” replied Midir.

The King was silent for a while and after that he said, “Come back in one month from this day and the stake which I have lost shall be paid.”