Page:Heroes of the dawn.djvu/80

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
56
HEROES OF THE DAWN

from landing; but though Caeilté and his men fought most valiantly they were overpowered by the strangers, and a great number of the Fians were killed.

When Goll saw how the battle was going against them, he said to the woman:

"Let there be peace between us this night, and in the morning, though few of us remain, we will fight again."

"I will let the remnant of your Fians go free, Goll mac Morna," answered the woman, "if you will agree to meet me in single combat. If you will not, I will carry on the fight until you are all dead."

Goll arranged to meet her, and the only condition the combatants made was that the fight must be carried on until one or the other was killed; and though Caeilté and the warriors tried to dissuade him from doing so, the next morning he armed himself and went down to the strand. The whole of that day he and the woman fought together, neither gaining the victory, and for two succeeding days they met again, striking many hard blows; but on the eve of the third day,