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Up sprang the Amadan, and at him leaped they all Slat Mor, Slat Marr, Slat Beag, the cailliach, and the four badachs. If the Amadan had had a hard fight during the day, this one was surely ten times harder. But a brave and a bold fellow he was, and not to be daunted by numbers of showers of blows. They fought for long and long.
"Fetch the lad in," said the mother, and went to the fire. Dol Beag took down the great Bible. The lad and lass took the hill road in the moonlight, and the mother watching them. Dol Beag lay in his bed long, turning and turning like a man not at his ease, and then he rose and put his clothes on him. "Where will you be going at this hour?" said his wife.
"O Amadan!" they said, "don't interfere with us, for we are nearly killed as it is. The castle isn't on fire. Every day we have to go out to fight three giants Slat Mor, Slat Marr, and Slat Beag. We fight them all day long, and just as night is falling we have them killed.
The blue blades sprang from cut to parry like live things, and in the light I saw the same cruel smile, line for line, in both faces. The snow was falling in big wet flakes, and the fight went on, neither giving an inch, and then from behind came a thin voice "The McBrides are at it, hammer and tongs the Laird and the bastard, te-he," cried Dol Beag from the dark.
My father and his brother would be lying out like the kye in the summer, when they would be at the smuggling, they will be often telling me. And, Kate," said he, "you would not be saying any word o' the ploy at the Cleiteadh mor, for your father, Dol Beag, is not very chief with Dan McBride." "It will not be spoken of," said she; but the lass held her man the closer.
Now here, thinks I, is a bonny kettle of fish, for Margaret was sitting with us, but for all the suddenness of it she never geed her beaver, and I kent then that she had word some way. "Mistress Helen has quick news," said I. "She has a maid yonder, Dol Beag's lass, and she brought the word frae McKinnon's son, it seems; Kate Dol Beag had the news."
I am thinking the mistress would rather be having the other man," said she, and rose to put peat on the fire. "Whatever other man is it?" says the mother. "Kate will be meaning Dan McBride's bastard," says Dol Beag, and his hand shook a little on the hook. "He is free with his money whatever, and a fine man they are saying."
"Ay, ay, wan at a time, McBride; I'll be feenishing the stickin' o' this pig before I will start on you, and you can be countin' your bastards again," and with that he whipped round on Dan like an eel with his dirk hand high. But a spring took Dan clear, and before Dol Beag could follow, Dan had him in the air spitting like a cat.
"Last night," says the Amadan, "I fought a great fight, and killed Slat Mor, Slat Marr, Slat Beag, the Cailliach of the Rocks, and four badachs. Now I'm under geasa to meet and to fight the Black Bull of the Brown Wood. Can you tell me where to find him?" "I can that," says she, "but it's now night. Come in and eat and sleep."
Dol Beag put a hand to his beard, and his shifty eyes fixed on the innkeeper. "Ceevility," says he, "from a man in the public. I'm wantin' that, and I'll be payin' for whatever drink I'll tak. Put a refreshment before me, McKelvie, and go back again to your affairs."
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