s gray eyes and turned
uneasily in his seat, for well he knew what Brian would say to this.

"That was ill done, Turlough Wolf. If you had not served me so well, you
would repent that work. By my faith, I am minded to hang you at their
side!"

Brian meant it, for the torture of men made him furious.

"I am no fool to spare mad dogs," muttered Turlough sullenly. "It was
the Dark Master who lopped these ears of mine eight years gone."

"Tell your tale," said Brian curtly and fell to eating again.

"I found tidings both good and bad, master. From Galway the Dark Master
had sent messengers to his kin in Donegal, bidding them send aid south;
also, he sent to certain pirates north of Sligo Bay. From Sligo to the
Erne all that land is desolate, and has been so these six years, and the
O'Donnells from Lough Swilly have set up a pirate hold near Millhaven.
It was to these that the Dark Master sent also.

"He has appointed a meeting-place in the hills beyond Drumcliff, at a
certain mountain named Clochaun, or the Stone. Now, whether you think
my craft evil or good, master, it is yet gainful to us."

This much Brian was forced to acknowledge, though for many days
afterward he was still angry at Turlough for torturing and hanging those
men. He had no scruples about a downright hanging, but torturing was a
very different matter, and one of which he had tasted himself.

"Well, what is your advice in this?"

"We can do one of two things, master. The one is to ride on to Sligo and
fall on him when he comes south again with his men; the other is to ride
hard after him and catch him, then fall on the Millhaven men, then meet
the O'Donnells who are coming south to join him at the Stone Mountain
with the rest."

"The first plan is more cautious," said Brian thoughtfully; "but to
strike him when he has his men around him would be to repeat what we
have done. I like the other way the better."

"It is both safer and yet more dangerous, master. Safer in that we smite
him and his men separately, and more dangerous because we shall be in
the heart of a wild country, without supplies, and with no aid in case
we are defeated."

"It is more to my mind to talk of winning than losing," grunted Brian.
"I have spare horses and money with which to buy provisions. Also, I
think that I shall stamp flat that pirate nest at Millhaven, and set up
my own banner there."

"Then you have a banner of your own, master?" Turlough squinted up
slyly,