n you are likely to be bearded worse than Cathbarr," she mocked him
gaily. "Unless, indeed, you break that oath you swore this morning."

"Not I," returned Brian shortly. "I am not given to light oaths or light
pacts, Bird Daughter. I think I shall get me a ship and go cruising some
day."

"Come with me," she said, rising, "and you may win food and wine without
begging from your overlord. Well, now for that chamber Cathbarr fixed up
for me. _Beannacht leath!_"

Somewhat to his surprise, the next morning Brian found that Nuala was
extremely businesslike and even curt. Knowing little of women, he tried
to find wherein he had offended; failed utterly, and gave over the
attempt on seeing that Nuala preferred the company of Cathbarr.

Then, remembering that kiss she had given the giant aboard ship, he
concluded that the Bird Daughter was drawn by the physical magnificence
of the man, which gave him a little bitterness. So he merely set his jaw
the harder and said nothing of the thing that lay in his heart to any
one. For that matter, he was not quite sure himself what the thing was;
but he knew that he had never seen a woman such as the Bird Daughter in
all his life, and was not apt to find another.

Turlough having departed on his mission, Brian fell back on Cathbarr to
act as lieutenant; with Nuala herself, the work of getting the castle in
shape proceeded apace. The Bertragh hold was built on a cliff that rose
from the plain on the one hand, and sloped down to the water on the
other; had the Dark Master not fallen into Turlough's trap, he might
have turned out the pikemen to shift for themselves and have held the
castle with his own men for as long as he wished.

Indeed, Brian found that the removal of danger and the taking of the
castle had somewhat puffed up his men, lessening their fear of him. So,
on the second day, he quelled a free fight that rose among them, hanged
ten of the worst, and after this the others became as lambs before him.

Upon exploring the castle, Brian was delighted to find it well equipped
in all things except prisoners. The Dark Master had had little use for
captives, it seemed, and his dungeons were in sad disrepair. However,
there was good store of powder, provisions in moderation, a well within
the castle, and no lack of arms and munitions of war. Brian promptly
took the chamber of O'Donnell for his own use--a large tower-room well
furnished in English style, and having the luxury of a f