Matheson Collection > Folk tales and fairy lore in Gaelic and English

FOLK TALES AND FAIRY LORE. 47
that he cried to him: " Surrender or combat." ** Sur-
render or combat," said young Ulin, "thou shalt not
get to-night; but prepare to defend thyself early
enough to-morrow."
With the rising of the sun next day young Ulin
ascended the rampart and cried: " Shall I get the fair-
play of the Feinn ? " Big Black John replied: " Thou
shalt get a combat with one man, or a combat with
two or three men, as it liketh thee." Young Ulin
listened not to more talk, but sprang over the rampart
and cried: " I'll take a combat against one man."
He got that, and he and the champion of the Red
Shield closed with one another. They fought hard
the day long; but, as evening was nearing, young
Ulin was growing faint and wearied. But, when he
remembered that he was far from his friends and near
to his foes, he took courage, dealt a bloody blow, and
struck the head off the champion of the Red Shield.
Then he sprang over the castle rampart ; but, before
he was barely in, there reached him Big Black John's
defiance — " Surrender or combat." He replied as he
had done on the night before: "Surrender or combat
thou shalt not get from me to-night, but make ready
to defend thyself early enough to-morrow morning."
Early next morning young Ulin ascended the
rampart of the castle, and again asked the fair play
of the Feinn. He got that, and he and the champion
of the Green Shield encountered one another. He was
getting the better of the champion in the beginning of
the day, but, about the going down of the sun in the
west, he felt himself growing wearied and faint. But,
when he thought that he was far from his friends and
near to his foes, he roused himself, and with one bloody