r lordling back yet. He oweth me a bout, and is too honest a man to
rob even an enemy. But, Humphrey lad," added he, "I pray you see to
these women. There is sore distress in their camp, and I durst not put
in my head. Besides, I know not if they have so much as a crust of
bread to eat."

The honest fellow was right. When I went in, the maiden was in strange
woe, pacing up and down her chamber with pale face and heaving breast.

"Humphrey," said she, and her voice was dry and hoarse, "this is my
fault, my fault! He will love me no more! I tempted him to stay when
he should have been at his brother's side. I, for my own comfort, made
a woman of him, who should have helped make him a hero."

"Nay," said I, "you are wrong, maiden. Had he been there he could not
have helped this. It was in nature he should--"

"Humphrey!" she exclaimed, in a voice which staggered me, "talk not like
a fool. I have forfeited his love. He did well to leave me without a
word! I have been worse to him than his worst enemy. I dare not see
him again, for he will loathe me. You must take me hence, or, truly, I
will go without leave."

"Maiden," said I, "have patience. This is the act of God, not of man;
and Ludar when he returns may need your comfort sorely."

She laughed bitterly.

"I know Ludar," she said; "you know him not. Think you the sight of me
will not drive him mad when he comes back, brotherless?"

"At least," said I, "be content to wait here till to-morrow. I should
be a traitor to him and myself were I to let you depart unattended; and
I may not leave, here till he or the old chief comes."

"Will Sorley Boy be here to-morrow?" asked she.

"He will; he has said so."

"Then," said she, "I stay on this condition. Tell him naught of me but
that I am an O'Neill, a prisoner here, who demand to be restored to my
father, Turlogh Luinech O'Neill. Ludar will not return yet. When he
does, he shall find me gone. Go back to the wall, Humphrey. No man
shall say again I stood between him and his duty."

I returned sadly enough to my post; and all that night we kept weary
watch on the walls, straining our ears for Ludar's call or news of the
battle.

But neither Ludar nor news of him came.

At daybreak, however, as the sun rose over the headlands, there came a
noise of pipes and shouting, and a flutter of pennons on the hill-tops.
Then we knew Sorley Boy had come.

Before him fled scattered parties of the enemy