fell on Conaire because they had no way to wend save
upon the Road of Midluachair and the Road of Cualu.

So they took their way by the coast of Ireland southward.

Then said Conaire on the Road of Cualu: "whither shall we go tonight?"

"May I succeed in telling thee! my fosterling Conaire," says Mac cecht,
son of Snade Teiched, the champion of Conaire, son of Eterscel. "Oftener
have the men of Erin been contending for thee every night than thou hast
been wandering about for a guesthouse."

"Judgment goes with good times," says Conaire. "I had a friend in this
country, if only we knew the way to his house!"

"What is his name?" asked Mac cecht.

"Da Derga of Leinster," answered Conaire. "He came unto me to seek a
gift from me, and he did not come with a refusal. I gave him a hundred
kine of the drove. I gave him a hundred fatted swine. I gave him a
hundred mantles made of close cloth. I gave him a hundred blue-coloured
weapons of battle. I gave him ten red, gilded brooches. I gave him ten
vats good and brown. I gave him ten thralls. I gave him ten querns. I
gave him thrice nine hounds all-white in their silvern chains. I gave
him a hundred racehorses in the herds of deer. There would be no
abatement in his case though he should come again. He would make return.
It is strange if he is surly to me tonight when reaching his abode."

"When I was acquainted with his house," says Mac cecht, "the road
whereon thou art going towards him was the boundary of his abode. It
continues till it enters his house, for through the house passes the
road. There are seven doorways into the house, and seven bedrooms
between every two doorways; but there is only one door-valve on it, and
that valve is turned to every doorway to which the wind blows."

"With all that thou hast here," says Conaire, "thou shalt go in thy
great multitude until thou alight in the midst of the house."

"If so be," answers Mac cecht, "that thou goest thither, I go on that I
may strike fire there ahead of thee."

When Conaire after this was journeying along the Road of Cualu, he
marked before him three horsemen riding towards the house. Three red
frocks had they, and three red mantles: three red bucklers they bore,
and three red spears were in their hands: three red steeds they
bestrode, and three red heads of hair were on them. Red were they all,
both body and hair and raiment, both steeds and men.

"Who is it that fares before us?" asked Conaire. "It wa