wider than the eye of a needle. He opened the other
wide so that it was as big as the mouth of a mead-cup.[a] He stretched his
mouth from his jaw-bones to his ears; he opened his mouth wide to his jaw
so that his gullet was seen. The champion's light rose up from his
crown.[9]

[3-3] Stowe.

[4-4] LU. and YBL. 391.

[5-5] Stowe.

[6-6] LU. and YBL. 389.

[7-7] Stowe.

[8-8] LU. and YBL. 387.

[9-9] LU. and YBL. 391-397.

[a] Or, 'a wooden beaker,' YBL. 395.

[W.919.] "It was then he ran in among them. He scattered fifty king's sons
of them over the ground underneath him [1]before they got to the gate of
Emain.[1] Five[b] of them," Fergus continued, "dashed headlong between me
and Conchobar, where we were playing chess, even on Cennchaem ('Fair-head')
[2]the chessboard of Conchobar,[2] on the mound-seat of Emain. The little
boy pursued them to cut them off. [3]Then he sprang over the chessboard
after the nine.[3] Conchobar seized the little lad by the wrists. "Hold,
little boy. I see 'tis not gently thou dealest with the boy-band." "Good
reason I have," quoth the little lad. [4]"From home, from mother and father
I came to play with them, and they have not been good to me.[4] I had not a
guest's honour at the hands of the boy-troop on my arrival, for all that I
came from far-away lands." "How is that? Who art thou, [5]and what is thy
name?"[5] asked Conchobar. "Little Setanta am I, son of Sualtaim. Son am I
to Dechtire, thine own sister; and not through thee did I expect to be thus
aggrieved." "How so, little one?" said Conchobar. "Knewest thou not that it
is forbidden among the boy-troop, that it is geis for them for any boy to
approach them in their land without first claiming his protection from
them?" "I knew it not," said the lad. [W.932.] "Had I known it, I would
have been on my guard against them." "Good, now, ye boys," Conchobar cried;
"take ye upon you the protection of the little lad." "We grant it, indeed,"
they made answer.

[1-1] LU. and YBL. 398.

[b] 'Nine,' LU. and YBL. 399 and Eg. 1782.

[2-2] Stowe.

[3-3] LU. and YBL. 400.

[4-4] LU. and YBL. 403-404.

[5-5] LU. and YBL. 405.

"The little lad went [LL.fo.63a.] [1]into the game again[1] under the
protection of the boy-troop. Thereupon they loosed hands from him, and once
more he rushed amongst them [2]throughout the house.[2] He laid low fifty
of their princes on the ground un