[3-3] LU. and YBL. 507.

“Thereafter Conchobar came to the house of Culann the Smith.  The king was waited upon and all were shown honour, as befitted their rank and calling and privileges, nobility and gentle accomplishment.  Straw and fresh rushes were spread out under them.  They commenced to carouse and make merry.  Culann inquired of Conchobar:  “Hast thou, O king, appointed any to come after thee this night to this dun?” “No, I appointed no one,” replied Conchobar, for he had forgotten the little lad whom he had charged to come after him.  “Why so?” asked Conchobar.  “An excellent bloodhound have I, [1]that was brought from Spain.[1] [2]There are three[a] chains upon him, and three men at each chain.  Because of our goods and our cattle he is slipped and the liss is closed.[2] When his dog-chain is loosed from him, no one dares approach the same cantred with him to make a course or a circuit, and he knows no one but myself.  The power of hundreds is in him for strength.”  Then spake Conchobar, “Let the dun be opened for the ban-dog, that he may guard the cantred.”  The dog-chain is taken off the ban-dog, and he makes a swift round of the cantred.  And he comes to the mound whereon he was wont to keep guard of the stead, and there he was, his head couched on his paws, and wild, untameable, furious, savage, ferocious, ready for fight was the dog that was there.

    [1-1] LU. 513.

    [2-2] LU. and YBL. 512-513.

    [a] ‘four,’ Eg. 1782.

[W.1013.] “As for the boys:  They were in Emain until the time came for them to disperse.  Each of them went to the house of his father and mother, of his foster-mother and foster-father.  Then the little lad went on the trail of the party, till he reached the house of Culann the Smith.  He began to shorten the way as he went with his play-things. [1]He threw his ball and threw his club after it, so that it hit the ball.  The one throw was no greater than the other.  Then he threw his staff after them both, so that it reached the ball and the club before ever they fell.[1] [2]Soon the lad came up.[2] When he was nigh to the green of the fort wherein were Culann and Conchobar, he threw all his play-things before him except only the ball.  The watch-dog descried the lad and bayed at him, so that in all the countryside was heard the howl of the watch-hound.  And not a division of feasting was what he was inclined to make of him, but to swallow him down at one gulp past the cavity [LL.fo.64a.] of his chest and the width of his throat and the pipe of his breast. [3]And it interfered not with the lad’s play, although the hound made for him.[3] And the lad had not with him any means of defence, but he hurled an unerring cast of the ball, so that it passed through the gullet of the watch-dog’s neck and carried the guts within him out through his back door, and he laid hold of the hound by the two legs and dashed him against a pillar-stone [4]that was near him, so that every