Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race - Knowledge Rush

158 Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race[189]and very high, and it crossed a gorge where far below swung thetides of a boiling sea, in which ravenous monsters could be seenswimming.“Not one of us has crossed that bridge,” said Ferdia, “for thereare two feats that Skatha teaches last, and one is the leap acrossthe bridge, and the other the thrust of the Gae Bolg. 139 For ifa man step upon one end of that bridge, the middle straightwayrises up and flings him back, and if he leap upon it he may chanceto miss his footing and fall into the gulf, where the sea-monstersare waiting for him.”But Cuchulain waited till evening, when he had recovered hisstrength from his long journey, and then essayed the crossingof the bridge. Three times he ran towards it from a distance,gathering all his powers together, and strove to leap upon themiddle, but three times it rose against him and flung him back,while his companions jeered at him because he would not waitfor the help of Skatha. But at the fourth leap he lit fairly on thecentre of the bridge, and with one leap more he was across it,and stood before the strong fortress of Skatha; and she wonderedat his courage and vigour, and admitted him to be her pupil.For a year and a day Cuchulain abode with Skatha, and all thefeats she had to teach he learned easily, and last of all she taughthim the use of the Gae Bolg, and gave him that dreadful weapon,which she had deemed no champion before him good enough tohave. And the manner of using the Gae Bolg was that it wasthrown with the foot, and if it entered an enemy's body it filledevery limb and crevice of him with its barbs. While Cuchulaindwelt with Skatha his friend above all friends and his rival inskill and valour was Ferdia, and ere they parted they vowed tolove and help one another as long as they should live.Cuchulain and Aifa139 This means probably “the belly spear.” With this terrible weapon Cuchulainwas fated in the end to slay his friend Ferdia.