s alongside another of
the ships, whose sails were streaming up, and now his cannon began to
answer those of Nuala.

But Brian stood in bitterness, unmindful of the wild yells of his men,
for once more the Dark Master had escaped his hand at the last moment.
Shaun the Little had been correct in his "croakings."

CHAPTER XXI.

CATHBARR YIELDS UP HIS AX.

Brian gazed out at the scene before him in dull despair. So close were
the ships that he could clearly make out Nuala's figure, with its
shimmering mail and red cloak, on the poop of the foremost.

Her second carack had fallen behind, a shot having sent its foremast
overside, but the other two ships were driving in. All three were
lowering sail, for the Dark Master's craft were unable to get out of the
bay and were giving over the attempt; his disabled ship was sending
over its men to reinforce him, and Brian saw all his own efforts gone
for nothing.

There came a new burst of cannon, and through the veil of smoke he
perceived that Nuala was laying her carack alongside one of the pirate
ships. But it was not that on which stood the Dark Master; his was the
ship closest to the castle, and Lame Art was bearing down on him, while
Shaun the Little stood for the third, spitting out a final broadside as
he came about and lowered sail.

The crowding men on the shore had fallen silent as they watched the
impending conflict, but now Brian felt Cathbarr touch his arm, and
turned.

"Why so doleful, brother?" grinned the giant; though blood dripped into
his beard from a light slash over the brow, his eyes were as clear and
childlike as ever, and the rage of battle had gone from him. "Let us
join in that fight, you and I?"

"Eh?" Brian started, staring at him. "How may that be?"

"Ho, here is our captain given way to despair!" bellowed Cathbarr, and
his fist smote down on Brian's back. "Wake up, brother! We have three
boats here, and we can still strike a blow or two!"

Now Brian wakened to life indeed. He saw the three boats on the shore,
with dead men hanging over them, and leaped instantly into action.

"Push out those boats--get the oars, there!" he shouted, leaping down to
help shove them out. The men saw his intent, and sprang to work with a
howl of delight.

In no long time the dead were flung out, and the boats pushed down until
they were afloat. Brian leaped into one, Cathbarr into another, and men
piled in after them until the craft were almost awas