t ended until the last O'Donnell went down in a swirl
and clash of steel. Then Turlough, who had kept well out of it according
to his wont, pushed through and fell upon Brian's body. When Brian
opened his eyes his head was still ringing, while his men were bathing
him with water. After an instant he sat up and gazed around.

"The Dark Master--did you catch him?"

"Nay, our thought was all for you, master," answered Turlough.

Brian groaned in great bitterness, but said no word. He knew that his
chance was gone from him for that time, and as he looked around his
heart sank within him. Half of his men had slipped down and lay sleeping
among the dead, and the rest could scarce stay in their saddles for
weariness and lack of sleep. But Turlough sprang up and gazed at the
graying sky with fear in his face.

"Up, master!" he cried fiercely. "We must still ride hard, for the Dark
Master will send out a troop of horse from Galway to catch us, and we
must get past that town before the sun is high!"

So the sleeping were roused in haste, the wounded were put in saddle,
and with their beasts staggering under them, those that were left of
Brian's men closed around him and rode over the bridge through
Claregalway.

CHAPTER XVII.

BRIAN GOES A CRUISING.

Above the head of Bertraghboy Bay there was a swooping curve in the hill
road. It was at this same curve that Brian Buidh had first met the Dark
Master, and it was here he had set that trap which had won him tribute
for the Bird Daughter. When first he had ridden that road Brian had had
a score of lusty men at his back; on the second occasion he had headed a
hundred and four-score; but when he drew rein there a week after that
fight at Claregalway bridge there was with him only old Turlough Wolf,
and their horses were sorry skeletons like themselves.

"We are somewhat worse than when we twain started out together," laughed
Brian bitterly. "Then we had full bellies at the least, but now we have
naught."

"There are men coming, master," said Turlough, hanging weakly to his
saddle. "I think they are our castle watchers."

Very gaunt was Brian that day, and nigh spent with his wounds and hunger
and weariness. During the week that had passed since the Dark Master
slipped away from him, nothing but evil had come upon him.

First they had tried to slip past to the north of the city, and had
reached the Lough Corrib River, and could even faintly hear the bells of
St. N