The forces of Gaul met those of Finn at Gowra, just at evening. In those days no one thought of fighting at night. The two forces built their camps and waited for morning light to give the signal for the combat.
All through the early hours of the night Finn paced his camp and tried to make a plan which would stop the struggle of the next day. If the High King had not been on the side of Gaul, he felt that the trouble would never have occurred. At midnight he left his own camp and went, alone, to the quarters of Gaul and the High King.
These two men were greatly alarmed to wake and find Finn beside them. Both sprang to their feet and seized their weapons. They thought that Finn meant to do away with them by treachery.
“Have no fear,” said Finn. “I have come by myself, and my purpose is to talk, not fight. I have come to see if there is not some way in which we can stop the slaughter of the men of Erin.”
Both men were silent. Finally Gaul spoke, “There is one way,” he said. “You may give up the leadership and tell your men to obey me.”
Finn turned to the High King. “If that will stop the struggle, then I will accept the terms.”
The crafty High King was not pleased. A peace which would leave the Fenians as strong as ever was the last thing he wanted. He pretended to doubt Finn’s word.
“It is but a trick,” he said to Gaul. “Finn would have us believe that he wants peace, so that he may attack us unawares. Tomorrow’s contest shall decide all things which are at stake.”
“Then I make one other proposition to you,” said Finn, addressing the High King. “I will meet you in single combat tomorrow morning. If you best me, you will have a clear field to take my men as your followers. If I prove the better fighter, Gaul and I will be left to decide the leadership.”
The High King had been whispering to some of his men near him. These went out into the darkness before he replied to the challenge.