, yet far enough beyond
our range; nor, when they sped away into the hills westward, did the
chief allow his men to continue the chase. The McDonnells gave a wild,
mighty cheer, when they saw the heather of the clan flying aloft on
their ancient castle; and in the silence that followed I could see the
old chief stand a moment to pass his hand across his eyes, as if to make
sure he saw aright.

Then, erect, with a proud step, he advanced at the head of his men and
crossed the bridge. Our men, waving their hats aloft, answered back the
cheers, and, as the gate swung up to let them in, all else seemed
forgotten in the triumph of this home-coming of the grand old chief.

But when, a moment after, he halted and looked round him, the shouting
suddenly ceased and there fell a dead silence.

"My sons," said he, "where are they?"

No one seemed ready to answer, so that I was fain to step forward.

"Sir," said I, saluting, "Sir Ludar, your son, renders you your castle,
which he won by his own arm two nights ago. He is not here to salute
himself, as he is tending his brother who was traitorously wounded in
the battle yesterday."

The old man said nothing, but blazed on me with his eyes as though he
would blast me where I stood. Had I been the murderer myself, I could
not have trembled more. At length:

"Alexander, where is he?" he demanded in a hollow voice.

I said I had seen him last near the hill, but that Ludar, not finding
him there, had gone to seek him, I know not whither.

Then the old man handed his great sword to his esquire, and flinging off
his cloak, walked into the hall of the castle, where none durst follow
him. I longed to ask his permission to follow Ludar, besides making the
maiden's petition. But his look that day was too terrible to be faced.
So we stood to our guard, as we had stood all day long.

When at evening no sign came yet of Ludar, I braced myself up with a
great courage, and entered the hall.

The old warrior was sitting at the head of the empty table, immovable,
like a man stunned, looking straight before him. But when he saw me, he
seemed to recover himself and said:

"What news?"

"None," said I, "but as his servant, I pray you let me go and seek Sir
Ludar."

"You shall not go," said he. And there was naught left to say after
that.

"I obey you, sire," said I. "There is, by your leave, a maiden in this
castle, a prisoner, and daughter to the O'Neill. She craves your
p