Note 4-4 — Footnotes.

4On the morrow Nathcrantail went forth from the camp4 and he came to attack Cuchulain. W. 1942. He did not deign to bring along arms but thrice nine spits of holly after being sharpened, burnt and hardened in fire. And there before him on the pond was Cuchulain 5a-fowling and his chariot hard by him,5b and there was no shelter whatever. 6And when Nathcrantail perceived Cuchulain6 he 7straightway7 cast a dart at Cuchulain. Cuchulain sprang 8from the middle of the ground8 till he came on the tip of the dart. 9And he performed a feat on the point of the dart and it hindered him not from catching the birds.9 And again Nathcrantail threw a second dart. Nathcrantail threw a third dart and Cuchulain sprang on the point of the second W. 1951. dart and so on till he was on the point of the last dart. It was then, 1when Nathcrantail threw the ninth dart,1 that the flock of birds 2which Cuchulain pursued2 on the plain 3flew away from Cuchulain.3 Cuchulain chased them even as any bird 4of the air.4 5He hopped on the points of the darts like a bird from each dart to the next, pursuing the birds5 that they might not escape him but that they might leave behind a portion of food for the night. For this is what sustained and served Cuchulain, fish and fowl and game on the Cualnge Cow-spoil. Something more remains to be told: Nathcrantail deemed full surely that Cuchulain went from him in rout of defeat and flight. And he went his way till he came to the door of the tent of Ailill and Medb and he lifted up his loud voice 6of a warrior6: "That famous Cuchulain that ye so talk of ran and fled in defeat 7before me when he came to me7 in the morning." "We knew," spake Medb, "it would be even so when able warriors and goodly youths met him, that this beardless imp would not hold out; for when a mighty warrior, 8Nathcrantail to wit,8 came upon him, he withstood him not but before him he ran away!"