ened figures sensed what was
forward. A great din of clashing steel and yells was rising from the
court; then he and Cathbarr gained the seaward battlements and rushed at
the Dark Master's chamber. The door was open--it was empty.

For a moment the two stared at each other in blank dismay. With a yell,
a half-dozen Scots swirled down on them, but Brian threw up his hand.

"The castle is mine," he shouted. "You shall have quarter!"

The Scots halted, and when two or three of the Kerry pikemen dashed up
with news that the rest of the garrison had been cut down or given
quarter, they surrendered.

Brian's first question was as to O'Donnell.

"Either at the camp or aboard one of his kinsmen's ships," returned one
of the prisoners. "They were carousing all last evening."

At the same instant Cathbarr caught Brian's arm and whirled him about.

"Listen, brother!"

So swift had been Brian's attack that the castle had been won in a scant
three minutes. Now, as he listened, there came a ragged roar of
musketry, pierced by yells, and he knew that the camp was attacked.

With that, a sudden fear came on him that he would again be outwitted.
There was a thin mist driving in from the sea which would be dissipated
with the daybreak, and if the Dark Master was on one of the ships he
might get away before Nuala's caracks could arrive. Brian had been so
certain that he would find O'Donnell in the castle that the
disappointment was a bitter one, but he knew that there was no time to
lose.

"Come," he ordered Cathbarr quickly, "get a score of the men and to the
camp. Leave the others here to hold the castle if need be."

As he strode through the courtyard and the sullen groups of Scots
prisoners, he directed the Kerry men to load the bastards on the walls
and give what help might be in destroying the pirate ships. Then, with
Cathbarr and twenty eager men at his back, he set off for the camp at a
run, fearful that he might yet be too late.

The day was brightening fast, and from the camp rose a mighty din of
shouts and steel and musketry. Brian's men had charged after one hasty
volley, but their leader gave a groan of dismay as he saw that instead
of attacking from the seaward side as he had ordered, they were pouring
into the camp from the land side.

O'Donnell must have landed the greater part of his men, for Brian's
force was being held in check, though they had swept in among the brush
huts. Over the tumult Brian heard th