Page:Celtic Stories by Edward Thomas.djvu/28

 thinking spoilt the skill of his eyes and arms; he was bewildered; for one moment he ceased to be able either to think or to use his sword except for wild slashes. In that moment Cohoolin struck him a great blow; and now he had no need any longer of thinking or using the sword, because he was near death.

As Cohoolin bent over the youth, he remembered how twenty years before he had bent over Queen Eefa. Conla's hair was over his face, hiding all but his eyes, and the conqueror saw that the eyes looking through the hair were like Eefa's.

'Young man,' he said, 'I would rather it was I that had to die. I fear that thou gavest me thy life, for it was too easily taken from such a warrior as thou wert. And now since thou hast given thy life, give also thy name, for that is nothing.'

'Nay. but it is something,' muttered Conla.

'How so?'

'I may not tell.'

'Then I will make an exchange. I will give thee mine. If a name is something, then mine is something. It is Cohoolin.'

'Thou givest me nothing. I knew thee already. Farewell, Cohoolin.'

Cohoolin kissed him, and then he died.

The hero stood long in thought over the body, until he heard a strange woman's voice crying. She came nearer and nearer, crying so bitterly that it made Cohoolin's mouth quiver. When she caught sight of him a fearful look came into her eyes, but she ceased to cry and ran towards him, saying:

'O mighty Cohoolin, hast thou seen a young man passing by, a beautiful young man, a very brave young man, a generous young man?'