«Thanks,» said Shea, «but I don’t think I could eat that much, anyway, and there’s a — what do you call it? — a geas against my fighting anyone who has done something for me, so I couldn’t after the way you saved us.» He addressed himself to the slab of bread on which had been placed a pork chop and a piece of salmon, then glanced at Belphebe and added, «Would it be too much trouble to ask for the loan of a pair of knives? We left in rather a hurry and without our tools.»

A shadow flitted across the face of Cuchulainn. «It is not well for a man of his hands to be without his weapons. Are you sure, now, that they were not taken away from you?»

Belphebe said, «We came here on a magical spell, and as you doubtless know, there are some that cannot be spelled in the presence of cold iron.»

«And what could be truer?» agreed Cuchulainn. He clapped his hands and called, «Bring two knives, darlings. The iron knives, not the bronze.» He chewed, looking at Belphebe. «And where would you be journeying to, darlings?»

Shea said, «Back toAmerica, I suppose. We sort of — dropped in to see the greatest hero inIreland.»

Cuchulainn appeared to take the compliment as a matter of course. «You come at a poor time. The expedition is over, and now I am going home to sit quietly with my wife Emer, so there will be no fighting.»

Laeg looked up with his mouth full and said, «You will be quiet if Meddling Maev and Ailill will let you, Cucuc. Some devilment they will be getting up, or it is not the son of Riangabra I am.»

«When my time comes to be killed by the Connachta, then I will be killed by the men ofConnacht,» said Cuchulainn, composedly. He was still looking at Belphebe.

Belphebe asked, «Who stands at the head of the magical art here?»

Cuchulainn said, «It is true that you said you have a taste for magic. None is greater, nor will be, thanUlster ’s Cathbadh, adviser to King Conchobar. And now you will come with me to Muirthemne in the morning, rest and fit yourselves, and we will go to Emain Macha to see him together.»