Blair Collection > Popular tales of the West Highlands > Volume 2

I 7 4 WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
" There is a small delay on that yet." Innsridh
began at them, and he left not one alone.
"What good did it do thee to slay the people,
and that I will kill thee," said the great warrior at
their head.
" If I had come out, from my meat and from my
warmth, from my warmth and from my fire, thou
shouldst not kill me." He and the warrior began at
each other. They would make a bog of the crag, and
a crag of the bog, in the place where the least they
would sink they would sink to the knees, in the place
that the most they would sink they would sink to the
eyes. The great warrior gave a sweep with his glave,
and he cut the head off Innsridh MacRigh nan Sealg.
Fiachaire came. The warrior met him, and with
him was the head of Innsridh.
Said Fiachaire to the great warrior, " Wliat thing
hast thou there 1 "
"I have here the head of IVIliic Cumhail."
"Hand it to me."
He reached him the head. Fiachaire gave a kisb*
to the mouth, and a kiss to the back of the head.
" Dost thou know to whom thou gavest it ? " said
Fiachaire to the warrior.
" I do not," said he. " It well became the body on
which it was before."
He went and he drew back the head, and strikes
it on the warrior's head while he was speaking, and
makes one head of the two. He went and he reached
(the place) where Fionn was again.
" AVho is that without Ì " said Fionn.
" I am Fiachaire, thy son,
With whom was the hideous fi^ht
That was at the battle phice
To-day."