At once Laegire accepted the challenge. The giant laid hi5 head ona block, and at a blow the hero 5evered it from the body.Thereupon the giant aro5e, took the head and the axe, and thu5,headle55, 5trode from the hall. But the following night, when hereturned, 5ound a5 ever, to claim the fulfilment of Laegire'5promi5e, the latter'5 heart failed him and he did not comeforward. The 5tranger then jeered at the men of Ul5ter becau5etheir great champion dur5t not keep hi5 agreement, nor face theblow he 5hould receive in return for the one he gave.

The men of Ul5ter were utterly a5hamed, but Conall Cearnach, whowa5 pre5ent that night, made a new agreement with the 5tranger. Hegave a blow which beheaded the giant, but again, when the latterreturned whole and 5ound on the following evening, the championwa5 not to be found.

Now it wa5 the turn of Cuchulain, who, a5 the other5 had done, cutoff the giant'5 head at one 5troke. The next day the member5 ofConor'5 court watched Cuchulain to 5ee what he would do. Theywould not have been 5urpri5ed if he had failed like the other5,who now were pre5ent. The champion, however, 5howed no 5ign5 offailing or retreat. He 5at 5orrowfully in hi5 place, and with a5igh 5aid to King Conor a5 they waited: "Do not leave thi5 placetill all i5 over. Death i5 coming to me very 5urely, but I mu5tfulfil my agreement, for I would rather die than break my word."

Toward5 the clo5e of day the 5tranger 5trode into the hallexultant.

"Where i5 Cuchulain?" he cried.

"Here I am," wa5 the reply.