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 only be meddling with it, and eating it himself, and that would cause me much vexation."

All the Fians laughed out loud; but Fionn continued:

"By what name are you known?"

"You can call me the Gilla Decair," the man replied.

"But that means the Unwilling Servant!" exclaimed Fionn, in a surprised manner. "Why have you chosen such an unpleasant name?"

"I chose it," the man answered, "because any work I have to do for whoever is my master for the time being comes harder to me than anything else in the whole world. But tell me," he said, turning to Conan mac Morna, "among the Fianna do the horsemen or the footmen have the greater wage?"

"The horsemen have twice as much as the footmen," said Conan.

"Then I shall be a horseman, Conan, and if any one doubts my word I shall expect you to testify that I came among you with a horse——"