'Great is the mockery to you,' said Medb, 'not to hunt the deer of misfortune yonder that is killing you.'
Then they start hunting him, till they broke the shafts of their chariots thereat.
The Death of Orlam
They go forth then over Iraird Culend in the morning. Cuchulainn went forward; he overtook the charioteer of Orlam, son of Ailill and Medb, in Tamlacht Orlaim, a little to the north of Disert Lochait, cutting wood there. (According to another version, it is The shaft of Cuchulainn's chariot that had broken, and it is to cut a shaft that he had gone when he met Orlam's charioteer. It is the charioteer who cut the shafts according to this version.)
'It is over-bold what the Ulstermen are doing, if it is they who are yonder,' said Cuchulainn, 'while the host is behind them.' He goes to the charioteer to reprove him; he thought that he was of Ulster, and he saw the man cutting wood, that is the chariot shaft.
'What are you doing here?' said Cuchulainn.
'Cutting chariot-shafts,' said the charioteer. 'We have broken our chariots hunting the wild deer Cuchulainn yonder. Help me,' said the charioteer. 'Look only whether you are to select the shafts, or to strip them.'
'It will be to strip them indeed,' said Cuchulainn.
Then Cuchulainn stripped the shafts through his fingers in the presence of the other, so that he cleared them both of bark and knots.
'This cannot be your proper work that I put on you,' said the charioteer; he was greatly afraid.