Then the women went, a woman opposite each of the cavaliers, to wash him and to bathe him. And it is Aife, Aed the Red's daughter, that happened to be above the tub in which Cúchulainn was, and Cúchulainn's hand chanced to be in hers, and she said: ‘Well, indeed, great is this hand's share of bravery and valour!’
‘What is that, my daughter?’ says the king.
‘It is,’ says the damsel, ‘that this is the hand of him by whom the three sons of Alatron the Fomorian have fallen, and 'tis he that rescued me from the great captivity in which I was.’
‘Is yon true, ye Irish cavaliers?’ says Aed the Red. ‘When ye entered the fort was there a single one of your company absent?’
‘It was Cúchulainn who is yonder’ , they answer; ‘for he went along the edges of this sea below, of perchance he could get birds or winged things to take to the fort.’