He out-ran the rest and took possession of the ball. Now to
the right he urged it, now to the left. He played it deftly before
every opponent who sought to check his career, and swiftly and
cunningly carried it past each of these, and finally with a clear
loud stroke sent it straight as a sling-bolt through the middle of
the north goal. The boys of his adopted party shouted, and they
praised his playing and that final victorious stroke. Setanta went
back after that and stood by himself near the south goal. His face
was flushed and his eyes sparkled, and he himself trembled with
joy, yet was he not in the least exhausted or out of breath.
The captain of the northern company came down with his boys and
all the boys who were chief in authority, and they surrounded
Setanta and said, "Thou art here a stranger and on sufferance. We
know thee not, but thou art a good hurler and not otherwise, as we
think, unmeet to bear us company. Receive now our protection, and
we will divide the sides again with a new division and continue
the game, for thou art very swift and truly expert in the use of
thy hurle.
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