-those same rocks where he had first laid ambush for the Dark
Master.

And riders were coming up on the road below!

He was caught very neatly, and caught by more men than he had looked
for. The remainder of the twenty gathered behind him and Cathbarr, and
the thirty rose among the wagons and for a moment stopped the assault
with their musketry; but before the smoke had cleared away two-score
horsemen came thundering up the road from behind the curve, and struck.

"Albanach! Albanach!"

The wild yells shrilled up, and the Scots troopers knew that they were
fighting without quarter in sight, for the "Albanach," as they were
termed in Gaelic, gave and got little mercy in Ireland. The saddles of
the fallen were filled from the men in the wagons, and leaving the
musketeers to hold off the unmounted men, Brian plunged into the swirl
of fighting horsemen and joined Cathbarr.

The odds were heavy, but the big claymores of the Scots were heavier
still. Side by side, Brian and Cathbarr plunged through the ranks, sword
biting and ax smiting, until they stood almost alone among the
O'Donnells, for their men had been borne back. Then the giant bellowed
and his ax crushed down a man stabbing at Brian's horse; Brian pistoled
one who struck at Cathbarr's back, and pressing their horses head to
tail they faced the circle of men, while behind them roared the battle.

For a moment the O'Donnells held off, recognizing the pair, then one of
them spurred forward with a howl of delight.

"_Dhar mo lamh_, Yellow Brian--your head to our gates!"

Brian thrust unexpectedly, and the man went over his horse's tail as the
ring closed in. So far Cathbarr had forgotten his pistols, but now he
used them, and took a bullet-crease across his neck in return; then the
ax and sword heaved up together, and the ring surged back. A skean went
home in Cathbarr's horse, however, and the giant plunged down, but with
that Brian spurred and went at the O'Donnells with the point of his
blade. This sort of fighting was new to them, and when Brian had spitted
three of them he heard Cathbarr's ax crunch down once more.

They were still cut off from the wagons, but there came a wild drumming
of hoofs, and wilder yells from the men on the hillside. Like a
thunder-burst, Turlough and his hundred broke on the battle. The
O'Donnells were swallowed up, stamped flat; the unmounted men fled among
the rocks, Turlough's men after them, and a dozen horsemen went
stream