"Whence have you come from yourself, you black burnt gruagach[99]?" said the young man.
"I'll take your bags off you, and your head too, unless you listen to me," said the Fuath.
"By my father's hand you won't unless I wish it myself," said Taircheal.
"By the hand of him who taught me, but I'll ply my weapon on you," said the Fuath.
"I'd think it easier to put you down than boiled meat," said Taircheal.
"Listen or I'll stick this point in through the middle of your heart," said the Fuath.
"I swear," said the young man, "that I'll strike you on the head with this stick, it is the crozier of my master and tutor, and he promised that it should never be broken in single combat."
Then fear possessed the Fuath, and he called to his people to come and help him. The other Fuaths came. Then it was plain to Taircheal that he had no way of escape or of withdrawing.
"We'll kill you now, brown Taircheal," said the Fuath's hag, "I'll thrust you through with my knife, and you'll get death and violent dissolution."
"I ask a request of ye," said Taircheal.