[3-3] LU. and YBL. 666.

“Then came the youngest of the sons forth on the green, namely, Fandall son of Necht.  “Fools were the folk who fought with thee here,” cried Fandall.  “How, now!” cried the lad.  “Come down to the pool, where thy foot findeth not bottom.”  Fandall rushed on to the pool.  “Thou shouldst be wary for us of him, little boy,” said Ibar.  “Why should I then?” asked the lad.  “Fandall son of Necht is the man whom thou seest.  For this he bears the name Fandall (’the Swallow’):  like a swallow or weasel[b] he courseth the sea; the swimmers of the world [W.1302.] cannot reach him.”  “Thou shouldst not speak thus before me, O Ibar,” said the lad. [1]"I swear, never again will he ply that feat on the men of Ulster.[1] Thou knowest the river that is in our land, in Emain, the Callann.  When the boys frequent it with their games of sport and when the water is not beneath them, [2]if the surface is not reached by them all,[2] I do carry a boy over it on either of my palms and a boy on either of my shoulders, and I myself do not even wet my ankles under the weight of them.”

    [b] LU. and YBL. have ‘a swan.’

    [1-1] LU. and YBL. 657-658.

    [2-2] Stowe.  That is, when the water is over their heads.

“They met upon the water [3]and they engaged in wrestling upon it,[3] and the little boy closed his arms over Fandall, so that the sea came up even with him, and he gave him a deft blow with Conchobar’s sword and chopped off his head from the trunk, and left the body to go down with the stream, and he carried off the head [4]and the spoils[4] with him.

    [3-3] Stowe.

    [4-4] LU. and YBL. 661.

“Thereupon Cuchulain went into the dun and pillaged the place and burned it so that its buildings were no higher than its walls.  And they turned on their way to Sliab Fuait and carried the three heads of Necht’s sons with them. [5]Soon Cuchulain heard the cry of their mother after them, of Necht Scene, namely."[5] [6]"Now I will not give over my spoils,” cried Cuchulain, “till I reach Emain Macha.”  Thereupon Cuchulain and Ibar set out for Emain Macha with their spoils.  It was then Cuchulain spoke to his charioteer:  “Thou didst promise us a good run,” said Cuchulain, “and we need it now because of the storm and pursuit that is after us.”  Forthwith they hasten to Sliab Fuait.  Such was the speed of the course they held over Breg, after the urging of the charioteer, that the horses of the chariot overtook the wind and the birds in [W.1317.] their flight and Cuchulain caught the throw he had cast from his sling or ever it reached the ground.

    [5-5] LU. and YBL. 667-668.

    [6-6] LU. and YBL. 669-679.