gely, leaped at a
mounted man and dragged him from the saddle, and was just springing up
when Turlough caught and stayed him.

"Wait, master!" panted the old man in desperate fear of the surging men
around him, but in more desperate fear for Brian. "This is madness, for
I ordered our fifty horses fetched around--"

"Bide here for them, then!" said Brian, and swung up into the saddle.
One of the Dark Master's men barred his way, and Brian's blade went
through his throat; then he was off after the four figures who by now
were far distant toward the dark forest that swallowed up the valley
ahead.

The cold night air cleared his brain, however, and after a moment he
drew rein with bitterness upon him. Turlough had spoken rightly, for to
ride after those four men with his naked sword alone was in truth
madness. So he came back again to where the last of the hemmed-in
horsemen was being cut out of his saddle, and when his men gathered
about him with a shout, his tongue gave them little joy.

"You are fools," he said harshly, "for the Dark Master has escaped us.
Take these horses, fifteen of you, and ride. Let five men go to bring in
our horses with all speed, and let ten more scatter out in search of our
hundred men. These are not more than two miles distant, and in an hour I
must ride from here. See to it that you return with the men and horses
by then, or shift for yourselves."

"That is too much," spoke out a burly fellow angrily. "We have been
climbing all day, and have----"

Brian said no word, but leaned down from his saddle and his Spanish
blade flickered in the light. The man fell and lay quiet, while the
others drew back in black fear.

"I am master here," said Brian coldly, when a long instant had passed.
"Go."

There was no more muttering among his recruits, either then or later. He
dismounted, saw that the O'Donnells had been slain to the last man, and
joined Turlough at the campfire. Food and drink had been found in the
camp, and a flagon of wine heartened Brian greatly.

"Now give me your rede, Turlough Wolf," he said. "I have failed in this
matter, and it seems that ill shall come of it."

"So I foretold, master, but we may still remedy the ill if we catch
O'Donnell. I think that by now his horsemen are scattered, and this
burning hut will draw our own men thither. Before midnight they will be
here, and we can ride forth. I think that the Dark Master will gather
what men are left him and strike dow