him, Comur Cromchenn, King of the Men of the Dog-Heads, and Caitchenn, King of the Men of the Cat-Heads.  And they had five red-armed battalions with them, and they went to the shore like great red waves.  “Who is there to match with the King of the Dog-Heads for me?” said Bodb Dearg.  “I will go against him,” said Lir of Sidhe Finnachaidh, “though I heard there is not in the world a man with stronger hands than himself.”  “Who will be a match for the King of the Cat-Heads?” said Bodb Dearg.  “I will be a match for him,” said Abarthach, son of Ildathach.

So Lir and the King of the Dog-Heads attacked one another, and they made a hard fight; but after a while Lir was getting the worst of it.  “It is a pity the way Lir is,” said Bodb Dearg; “and let some of you rise up and help him,” he said.  Then Ilbrec, son of Manannan, went to his help; but if he did, he got a wound himself and could do nothing.  Then Sigmal, grandson of Midhir, went to his help, and after him the five sons of Finnaistucan, and others of the Men of Dea, but they were all driven off by the King of the Dog-Heads.  But at that time Abarthach had made an end of the King of the Cat-Heads, and he rose on his spear, and made a leap, and came down between Lir and his enemy.  “Leave off now and look on at the fight,” he said to Lir, “and leave it to me and the foreigner.”  With that he took his sword in his left hand and made a thrust with his spear in through the king’s armour.  And as the king was raising up his shield, he struck at him with the sword that was in his left hand, and cut off both his legs at the knees, and the king let fall his shield then, and Abarthach struck off his head.  And the two kings being dead, their people broke away and ran, but the Men of Dea followed them and made an end of them all; but if they did, they lost a good many of their own men.

CHAPTER VI.  THE MARCH OF THE FIANNA

Ana Finn and the Fianna were at the house of Credhe yet, and they saw Taistellach coming towards them.  It was the custom, now, with Finn when he sent any one looking for news, that it was to himself it was to be told first, the way that if he got bad news he would let on not to mind it; and if it was good news he got, he would have the satisfaction of telling it himself.  So Taistellach told him how the foreigners were come to the harbour of the White Strand.

Then Finn turned to his chief men, and he said:  “Fianna of Ireland, there never came harm or danger to Ireland to be put aside this great danger that is come against us now.  And you get great tribute and great service from the chief men of Ireland,” he said, “and if you take that from them it is right for you to defend them now.”

And the Fianna all said they would not go back one step from the defence of Ireland.  And as to Credhe, she gave every one of them a battle dress, and they were taking leave of her, and Finn said:  “Let the woman come along with us till we know is it good or bad the end of this journey will be.”  So she came with them, bringing a great herd of cattle; and through the whole length of the battle, that lasted a year and a day, she had new milk for them, and it was to her house the wounded were brought for healing.