A STORY OF ANCIENT IRELAND
| chariots | weapon | barriers | protector |
| whelp | award | district | savage |
There was a great smith in Ulster of the name of Culain, who made a feast for Conchubar and his people. When Conchubar was setting out to the feast, he passed by the lawn where the boy troop were at their games, and he watched them awhile, and saw how young Setanta, his sister’s son, was winning the goal from them all.
“That little lad will serve Ulster yet,” said Conchubar; “and call him to me now,” he said, “and let him come with me to the smith’s feast.”
“I cannot go with you now,” said Setanta, when they had called to him, “for these boys have not had enough of play yet.”
“It would be too long for me to wait for you,” said the king.
“There is no need for you to wait; I will follow the track of the chariots,” said Setanta.
So Conchubar went on to the smith’s house, and there was a welcome before him, and the feast was brought in, and they began to be merry. And then Culain said to the king, “Will there be any one else of your people coming after you to-night?”
“There will not,” said Conchubar, for he forgot that he had told the little lad to follow him. “But why do you ask me that?” he said.
“I have a fierce hound,” said the smith, “and when I take the chain off him, he lets no one come into the district with himself, and he will obey no one but myself, and he has in him the strength of a hundred.”