n for Galway."

"Two men may ride the same road," quoth Brian grimly, and set his naked
blade in his belt. He saw that before him lay some fighting and much
hard riding, so inside the next hour he had his men full-fed. Before
this was finished the spare horses and those of his men came in, for
Turlough had ordered them to start at noon and ride around in case of
need.

Brian determined to spare neither men nor horseflesh on that riding, and
when his men were mounted he set out across the night to meet his
hundred, and to hear what had been done at the camp two miles distant.
As the moon was rising he met them; and if he was glad at the meeting,
they were twice glad.

They had found the camp and had lain off it until after dark as
Turlough had bidden them, the more so since there were two-score over a
hundred men there. But at length they had ridden down as if they were
fresh come from the north, and had twice ridden through the camp before
the O'Donnells were well awake, though it had been sharp work. The
result had been that a score of Brian's men had fallen, they had slain a
full half of the O'Donnells, and the rest had been driven and scattered
southward. Brian's men had plundered their camp and were weary, so that
when they heard of what had chanced at the Black Tarn they were somewhat
less than half willing to ride farther.

But Brian speedily persuaded them to that course, and Turlough led them
all to the south on the way to Sligo.

Bitterness and heaviness of heart dwelt deep in Brian that night, and
for some time to come. With the escape of the Dark Master, whether it
had been by magic or craft, all his visions had burst; he must ride away
from the pirate hold at Millhaven, he saw that he would lose many men on
his way south, and yet there lay no choice before him. He had scotched
the snake, and now he must kill it. If the Dark Master reached Galway
town in safety, those O'Donnells from Millhaven would be around by sea
to meet him, and the royalists would lend him men and guns to go against
Bertragh in their cause.

"Is there any likelihood that the Dark Master will miss those scattered
men of his?" he asked Turlough, who rode on his right hand.

"Little, master. There is but the one road south to Sligo at this
season, and it is great wonder indeed that the scattered men did not
fall on us at the Black Tarn in seeking their master. But with only
seventy-five men or so I do not think they will bide our co