h-fhada ('Lug long-hand'), the Irish sun-god; on the earthly
side he had also a mortal father, Sualtaim or Sualtach.] [W.3874.] it was
cast; the wound of a single spear it gave when entering the body, and
thirty[a] barbs had it when it opened, and it could not be drawn out of a
man's flesh till [1]the flesh[1] had been cut about it.

[a] 'Twenty four,' YBL. 39b, 23, and Eg. 106; but 'five,' Eg. 209.

[1-1] Stowe.

[2]Thereupon Laeg came forward to the brink of the river and to the place
where the fresh water was dammed, and the Gae Bulga was sharpened and set
in position. He filled the pool and stopped the stream and checked the tide
of the ford. Ferdiad's charioteer watched the work, for Ferdiad had said to
him early [3]in the morning:[3] "Now, gilla, do thou hold back Laeg
from me to-day, and I will hold back Cuchulain from thee [4]and thy men
forever."[4] "This is a pity," quoth the henchman; "no match for him am I;
for a man to combat a hundred is he [5]amongst the men of Erin,[5] and that
am I not. Still, however slight his help, it shall not come to his lord
past me."

[2-2] Stowe, Eg. 106, Eg. 209.

[3-3] Eg. 106.

[4-4] Eg. 209.

[5-5] Eg. 106.

[6]Thus were the henchmen: two brothers were they, namely, Id[b] son of
Riangabair, and Laeg[c] son of Riangabair. As for Id son of Riangabair,[6]
he was then watching his brother [7]thus making the dam[7] till he filled
the pools and went to set the Gae Bulga downwards. It was then that Id went
up and released the stream and opened the dam and undid the fixing of the
Gae Bulga. Cuchulain became deep purple and red all over when he saw the
setting undone on the Gae Bulga. He sprang from the top of the ground so
that he alighted light and quick on the rim of Ferdiad's shield. Ferdiad
gave a [8]strong[8] shake to the shield, so that he hurled Cuchulain the
measure of nine paces out to the westward over the ford. Then Cuchulain
called and shouted to Laeg to set about preparing the Gae Bulga for him.
Laeg hastened to the pool and began the work. Id [W.3895.] ran and opened
the dam and released it before the stream. Laeg sprang at his brother and
they grappled on the spot. Laeg threw Id and handled him sorely, for he
was loath to use weapons upon him. Ferdiad pursued Cuchulain westwards over
the ford. Cuchulain sprang on the rim of the shield. Ferdiad shook the
shield, so that he sent Cuchulain the space of nine paces eastwards over
the for