ireplace
besides.

The construction of the building was simple--a large stone structure
with embattled walls, running down close to the sea behind and rising
above the plain in front. Save for the courtyard, the walls were not
separated from the building proper, and there was one high tower, on
which the flagstaff had been shattered since O'Donnell had taken the
place, for he was not given to flags and display. Besides a dozen of the
large bastards, there were five falcons, with plenty of ball.

Therefore, Brian had good reason to be satisfied with his new home. The
only thing that rankled was that he held it not for himself, but for the
Bird Daughter; and he was determined that when he had settled scores
with the Dark Master he would only remain here until he had secured a
hold for himself, free of all service.

But settling with O'Donnell Dubh was the first duty he had. Brian
recalled his torture and the agony of Cathbarr every time he entered the
hall. The iron rings that had been in the floor he had already torn out,
while Nuala had taken for her own the lonely wolfhound, which had been
left behind by the Dark Master. But Brian, who put all his desire for
vengeance in the wish to "get back his Spanish blade," could hardly turn
around without having some phase of his sufferings brought back to him.

The men who had been thrown out along the roads had fetched in word that
the Dark Master had ridden for Galway, so Brian had great hopes that
Turlough would bring back some definite news. If O'Donnell settled in
the city, he was determined to go in at all risks and seek out his enemy
face to face; the O'Malleys were on good terms with the Bodkins, who in
old Galway played _Capulet_ to the _Montague_ of the Lynch family, and
he would be able to command some help in that quarter.

* * * * *

On the fifth day after the castle had been taken, a galley came over
from Gorumna Castle bearing news. Cromwell had failed before Duncannon,
and promised to fail again at Waterford, and hope was rising high among
the royalists, while O'Neill's Ulster army was biding its time in the
north until a new leader was chosen by the Confederacy to make head with
Ormond against the Parliament armies.

Upon this the O'Malley rovers were impatient to revictual at Gorumna and
be off to the south after plunder, so Nuala decided to leave Bertragh
the next morning. That night, after Cathbarr had drunk himself aslee