"Tuachall son of Necht came forth on the green, and the lad laid his hand
on Conchobar's lance against him, and it struck the shield above his belly
and broke through the ribs on the farther side after piercing his heart
within his breast. He struck off his head or ever it reached the ground.
[3]Thereafter Cuchulain carried off his head and his spoils with him to his
own charioteer.[3]

[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 I