"
"This youth will," said Laeg, "after having slain the sons of
Nectan, and after having sacked their dun and burned it with
fire."
Foil hearing that word became very angry, and he gripped his great
staff and advanced to make a sudden end of Laeg first, and then of
the sleeper, Laeg, on his side, drew Cuculain's sword. Hardly and
using all his strength, could he do so and at the same time hold
himself in an attitude of defence and attack, but he succeeded.
His aspect, too, was high and warlike, and his eyes shone
menacingly the while his heart trembled, for he knew too well that
he was no match for the man.
"Go back now for thy weapons of war," he cried, "and all thy war-
furniture, and thy instruments of sorcery and enchantment. Truly
thou art in need of them all."
When Foil saw how the enormous sword flashed in the lad's hand,
and saw the fierceness of his visage and heard his menacing words,
he returned to the dun. The people of the dun were now awake, and
they clustered like bees on the slope of the mound, and in the
covered ways beneath the eaves and along the rampart, and they
hissed and roared and shouted words of insult and contumely, lewd
and gross, concerning Laeg and concerning that other youth who
slept in such a place and at such a time.
Pages:
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174