han before. Well, I may fall, but it shall not be until I have
dragged down the Dark Master. If I fall not I may yet best the ill-luck
and conquer Millhaven for my own."

With that his mind leaped ahead again as the plan outlined itself to
him. The O'Donnell pirates must have brought their whole force to the
Dark Master's aid, and if he could but cut off that camp of theirs
between the castle and the shore, Nuala O'Malley might bring her two
ships against the weakened four and take them all.

Then, when the castle had fallen, he could sail north to Millhaven,
reduce the stronghold there, and let fly his own banner at last. It was
a good plan, but it hung on many things.

With a short laugh at his own fancies he turned in the saddle as the
voice of Turlough broke into his musings.

"I mind the last time I saw the poor woman back yonder, master. It was
just before the great flight, and I mind now that she was not so
ill-looking even then, though she was well past her youth, and that was
forty years ago. Tyr-connall's bag-pipe men were blowing as we marched
to Lough Swilly, and two earls rode in front when the poor _caillin_
rushed out and flung herself under Tyr-owen's horse--oh, _Mhuire as
truagh, Mhuire as truagh_ for the old days! And when the earl died, her
name was on his lips, and I came home again to find her disappeared. Oh,
what sorrow for the old days! Would that I had died in Rome with the
princes--"

"Stop that wailing," interrupted Brian sternly, for the old man was
lashing himself into a frenzy of grief. "Put spurs to that horse of
yours, Turlough, for we must reach Cathbarr's tower by noon if possible
in order to start the men off over the hills. It'll be a long night's
march, and I've no time to be idling here on the road."

Upon which he dug in his spurs and urged his steed into a gallop, and in
order to keep up, Turlough Wolf had to give over his laments and do
likewise. Brian forced himself to bend all his energies toward carrying
out his final desperate plan, but he silently vowed that the old woman
who had so foully been cut down by the O'Donnells should not die
unavenged.

On they galloped without pause, gained the head of Bertraghboy Bay, and
swung to the east on the last stretch of the trip. The storm which had
arisen so inopportunely was now dying away, and the sun was breaking
through the gray clouds; when they turned out from the main track into
the hill-paths that led to Cathbarr's towe