Nuala O'Malley Page 5

  CHAPTER V.

  YELLOW BRIAN RIDES SOUTH.

  Outside the castle gates, where cressets flared over the snow, an oldseneschal appeared and ordered Brian to leave his men outside. To thisthe men made some objection, but Brian laughed softly.

  "Bide where you are," he said. "You shall not be slain unless I am slaininside."

  The O'Donnells watched him and Cathbarr with no little wonder, and thetwo men made a fine pair as they marched across the creaking drawbridge.Though Cathbarr topped Brian by half a head, there was no doubt as towhich was the nobler man; the giant gazed around him with amazed eyes,but Brian held his head high and strode in with a smile flickering onhis lips. But his blue eyes were very sharp that night.

  He saw the crowded men in the courtyard, many of them armed withmuskets, their matches burning, and noted also that the Dark Masterpossessed some half-dozen bastards--immense, nine-foot pieces mounted onhuge carriages, with their eight-pound balls piled beside them. In thosedays it was no small thing to own such cannon in the west of Ireland,and Brian eyed them approvingly as he passed through the courtyard. Hewas beginning to count them as his own.

  Cathbarr had told him that the Dark Master had brought many O'Donnellsdown from the north to settle the farms and lands beyond the castle, butBrian saw that these were not all. The garrison was a riffraff of allthe armies that had wasted Ireland, and they were fighting men fit fortheir work.

  Brian entered the hall, with Cathbarr muttering oaths a pace behind him.The hall was high, lit with cressets, and beside a huge fireplace satthe Dark Master in a carved chair of black wood, an old harper sittingopposite. Behind Brian and Cathbarr flocked in men until the hall waswell filled.

  Brian found the penetrating eyes fixed on him as he advanced, but inthem was no surprise or fear, and O'Donnell calmly stroked his droopingmustache as he watched. Cathbarr still followed behind, bearing thatgreat ax of his, and Brian stopped a few paces from the hearth as theDark Master spoke.

  "Welcome to Bertragh, Yellow Brian. I had not looked for you so soon."

  "No." Brian's voice rang out richly in the stillness. "But I am here,O'Donnell Dubh, to claim my two-score men. I have reduced Cathbarr ofthe Ax."

  For the first time the hunched O'Donnell seemed to notice Cathbarr. Hisblack eyes flickered curiously to the giant, then he smiled sourly.

  "If he is reduced, why does he not kneel, Brian of the hard eyes?"

  "Kneel," ordered Brian.

  Cathbarr flushed and his beard began to stand out, but he obeyed. Therewas no great love in his face as he knelt, holding to his ax, and gazedat O'Donnell.

  "Throw your ax into the fire," said the Dark Master, his voice smooth assilk.

  "Do not," exclaimed Brian, and his eyes grew bitterly cold as theyclinched with those of the Dark Master. Over the latter's pallid facecrept a slow red fire, and his head drew back between his shoulders. Menheld their breaths.

  "O'Donnell," went on Brian slowly, "I have fulfilled my pact. I havereduced Cathbarr of the Ax--but he serves me and not you. Since I haveconquered him as you bade, I call on you to carry out the pact and lendme two-score men for three months, scat-free."

  If Brian had wanted any testimony as to O'Donnell's iron hand, he hadit. His words, with all they implied, would have drawn a howl of ragefrom the retainers of any other chief in the land, but the men behindand around him only grew more silent.

  As for the Dark Master, the red hue died slowly from his face, thoughhis head remained drawn in, and still his eyes held those of Brian. Whenhe spoke, it was as if he were musing aloud.

  "So, Brian of the hard eyes, you have some courage, eh? _Duar naCriosd!_ Little did I ever think that a man would come to me and borrowmy own men that he might make war upon me! Is this your thought, YellowBrian?"

  "You have sharp ears, Dark Master," said Brian dryly, and a chucklepassed through the crowd. "In time I might take this castle, it is true.Just now I have other things in mind, however, and I shall not fall uponyou until there has passed gage of battle between us."

  "Thanks for so much," smiled the other slowly, though the red crept upto his cheek-bones faintly. Brian seemed perfectly at his ease, asindeed he was. "And what if I fell upon you first?"

  "I am liker to offer battle than accept it, O'Donnell."

  "Now, that is a good answer," said the Dark Master, while a whisperfloated around the hall. "I would be glad to have you at my back, YellowBrian, for men who ride behind me are like to win much."

  Brian laughed a little.

  "Some day I may be at your back, O'Donnell Dubh, and in that day I maywin all that you have, from life to goods."

  To his blank amazement, O'Donnell only threw out his head and chuckled;but it was an evil chuckle, and there was venom gleaming in his blackeyes.

  "I think that it were best for me to slay you here, Brian of the hardeyes, to slay you and this Cathbarr of the Ax. It seems to my mind thatit is anything but good to turn you loose upon the land, for I hear astorm of hoofs in the air, and dead men are riding on the wind, andthere is a whisper--"

  He paused, drew his cloak about him, and gazed down at his foot. Thatpause was more dreadful than speech, for the crowded men moved not afinger, so that Brian all but thought that he and the Dark Master werealone. Then his face blanched a trifle. For, whether it were someuncanny play of mind or very truth, it seemed to him that from the widefireplace there did indeed come a faint ring of hoofs and clash ofsteel; the long cressets over them suddenly flickered smokingly, thoughno draft crossed their faces.

  Then indeed Brian knew that his fate hung upon the Dark Master'sthoughts, and he drew himself up a little straighter, and his blue eyesglinted colder than any ice as his hand closed upon his sword-hilt. Butat the slight motion O'Donnell looked up keenly.

  "You have ridden hard, Brian. Pause and sup with me--"

  "I did not come to eat or drink," said Brian sternly. "Also, I am wearyof this talking. Now fulfil your pact, Dark Master, or be shamed beforeall your men."

  "Are you for Royalist or Parliament?" asked O'Donnell, as if he had notheard.

  "I am for Brian Buidh."

  "Take two-score men and begone," and the other rose. To his surprise,Brian found that, despite the hunched back, O'Donnell was as tall ashimself. The black eyes flamed out at him for an instant. "I will keepmy honor, though I regret it later, Yellow Brian. Go, with your men.When next we meet your head shall grin over my gates."

  "Thanks for so much," retorted Brian mockingly, though he drew a swiftbreath of relief. "My head serves me too well to render it easily. _Slanleat_, O'Donnell!"

  "_Slan leat_," repeated the Dark Master and turned his back, gazing downat the fire.

  Brian turned and strode down the hall, Cathbarr at his heels. When theyreached the courtyard he found men saddling in haste, and an officersaluted him gravely.

  "Two-score men are at your orders, Yellow Brian."

  "Let them follow me," said Brian curtly. "And who quarrels with my men,dies."

  To that there was no dispute. The drawbridge clanked down once more,Brian and Cathbarr mounted and rode out to where the thirty waitedgrimly, and after them came the forty men from the garrison. Cathbarr,who trusted the Dark Master little, set his ten axmen in the van,followed with Brian, and the sixty followed them into the night.

  "I think we came out of that well, brother," said the giant softly."Where do we ride?"

  "To your tower, for the night. After that, in search of more men."

  "Toward Galway or Slyne Head?"

  "Wherever there are men."

  After that they rode on in silence, while the men behind fraternizedfreely. All were of the same stamp, and indeed the two-score alreadywere as willing to serve Brian as O'Donnell, since they had witnessedthat scene in the castle hall.

  Brian wondered dully what the outcome of all this was to be. The strainof facing O'Donnell and bearding him in his own den had been no lightone, but he knew that Cathbarr had spoken truth in saying that they were
well out of it. The Dark Master, he thought, was a man well worthfighting. To take his castle was not like turning out a chieftain ofsome ancient family, with his clan about him for miles around; O'Donnellhad seized upon the place himself, his men were reavers and outlaws, andthe castle was a strong one.

  Then there was the O'Malley alliance. Brian had it in mind to beset theDark Master by sea and land at once, for all the O'Malley clan had beenseamen and rovers from time immemorial, while he himself preferred menand horses at his back. In calmer mood now, he reflected that Turloughmight not return for a week, and there was food and fodder for seventymen and horses to be obtained.

  If he rode toward Galway he would have to plunder the patriots, whichwent against the grain. But in lower Galway and Clare things weredifferent. That winter no army held to winter quarters save that ofCromwell, and between Limerick and Galway there was a wild rout of menout of half a dozen armies, the plague had swept off all but theseafaring folk, and men held only what their swords could guard.

  So Brian determined that he would ride toward the south.

  He realized well that his men must be drawn together by fighting, thatthey must learn a perfect confidence in him, and that they must earntheir sustenance for the time being. Cathbarr already knew of oldTurlough's mission, and of course approved, since in his eyes Briancould do no wrong. What was more, reflected Brian, he could not makethis alliance empty-handed. He must get men and spare horses, stores andpowder, and some muskets or pistols if possible, for few of his mencarried more than sword or perhaps a sorry pistolet or ancientbombardule out of date a generation since.

  "A storm of men!" he muttered as he gazed at the stars. "A storm of men!Did that Black Woman speak truly, I wonder? And what dark magic was thatwhich passed to-night?"

  But no answer came to his questions save that the cold stars chilled himto the bone. Since they had no better place to seek, they returned toCathbarr's tower, but it was long past midnight when they reached it,and the men were nodding in their saddles. As barely a dozen could crowdinto the place, the rest were forced to camp outside in the snow, butroaring fires and some little food put them in good humor and it was nohardship to any of them.

  "It has been a strange two days for us twain," said Brian as he andCathbarr divided a scorched bannock one of the Scots had hastily turnedout over the coals.

  "Yes," smiled the giant into his beard, his deep-throated bull's voicerumbling through their tiny room. "But it is in my mind that there arestranger days ahead of us, Brian Buidh. A witch-woman once told me thatI would meet my death from water and fire together, brother, in a causenot mine own."

  "You are not bound to my service," replied Brian.

  "But I am bound to you, for I like you," answered Cathbarr, and his handcrushed down on Brian's. That night they slept together beneath the sameblanket, and though after that they spoke few words of love orfriendship, the two men drew ever closer each to the other in allthings.

  It had indeed been a strange two days for him, thought Brian as heroused up the camp late the next morning and set out sentries in thehills. He had met the Dark Master on the first, and on the second he hadmet Cathbarr, then had forced the Dark Master into lending him menagainst his will. Now, after a scant three days beyond Lough Corrib, hehad twined his fate with that of other men, had set his heart uponwinning Bertragh Castle, and had won both a stout friend and a stoutenemy.

  For he counted O'Donnell as a foe, in which he was not far wrong.

  However, there was no time to be wasted, for fodder was exceedingscanty, and Brian himself had no heart for idleness. As he had resolvedon his course during that return ride the night before, he gathered hismen together and briefly ordered them to be ready to ride at noon, andto Cathbarr alone he outlined his plan. Then he picked two of the axmenwho knew the country roundabout, and ten from among those O'Donnell hadloaned him, and took them aside and told them of Turlough Wolf, whowould come before long.

  "You will bide here," he concluded, "and bid him wait for me. I shallreturn this side of ten days. And mind you, if there is feud ortreachery among you so that one man's blood is let, then I will exact atenfold vengeance from both men."

  The twelve, who were sturdy ruffians and well able to hold the placeagainst any sudden attack by the Dark Master, looked into the ice-blueeyes for an instant, and straightway vowed that there would be neithertreachery nor quarreling among them. And Brian guessed shrewdly that hehad inspired some little fear in their hearts.

  So that at high noon they rode away to the east, threescore strong, withBrian and Cathbarr and the remaining eight axmen in the van. Brian didnot spare either man or horse that day, for there was little food leftthem; when midnight came they had slipped past Galway and were ready toride south, though they all went to rest supperless.

  With the morning Brian found that two of the men had slipped off andwere busy plundering a hill-farm a mile away, where an old woman livedalone. He promptly had them brought before him, and bade them take uptheir weapons.

  "I am no executioner," he said as he bared his huge sword. "I am ateacher of lessons, and my lessons must be learned."

  When they rode away from that place, leaving the two men buried undercairns, Brian was well assured that there would be no more ravaging byhis men, though they died of hunger.

  However, it proved that there was no great chance of this, for Briandrove such a storm past Slieve Aughty as had not been heard of ingenerations. Of all that chanced in those seven days ere he set his faceto the north again, not much has survived, for there were greater stormsto come afterward, and more talked-of fighting. But certain things weredone which had a sequel.

  By the fifth day Brian had swept past Gort toward Lough Graney, andturned west by Crusheen, which he passed through with a hundred horsemenat his heels. Two days before he had struck upon fifty Ulstermen whowere working north from Munster, and what were left of them after themeeting took service with him. From them he learned that O'Neill wasdying or dead, and that the Royalists and Confederacy men were paralyzedthrough the south.

  They had left Crusheen ten miles behind them on the fifth day, whenCathbarr laid his hand on Brian's knee and pointed to the left, where ahill rose against the sky.

  "Look there, _boucal_--when the birds fly from the _ceanabhan_, seek forsnakes!"

  Brian drew rein. Gazing at the long slopes of moor-grass that roseacross the hill, he saw a sudden flight of blackbirds from over thecrest; they flew toward him, then swerved swiftly and darted to theright. Brian called up two of his men who knew the country, and askedthem what lay over the hill.

  "The Ennis road to Mal Bay," they replied, and he sent them ahead toscout.

  Before he reached the hill-crest they were back with word that an"army" was on the road, and Brian pushed forward with Cathbarr to seefor himself. Slipping from their horses, they gained the hilltop andlooked over on the winding road beyond. Neither of them spoke, butBrian's eyes glinted suddenly, for he beheld a train of four wagonsconvoyed by some two hundred troopers. He touched Cathbarr and theyreturned.

  "A party of Ormond's Scottish troopers," he said quietly when they hadrejoined the men. "Cathbarr, take thirty men and work around them. Whenyou strike, I will lead over the hill and flank them."

  The giant nodded, picked his men, and rode away. Brian led his seventycloser to the rise of ground, and as they waited they could hear thecreaking of wagons and the snap of whips. It was a Royalist convoy, andsince there was no love between the Scots and the Irish of any party,Brian's men were hungry for the fight.

  They got their fill that day.

  A rippling shout, a scattering of shots, and Brian spurred forward. Theroad wound a hundred yards below, and Cathbarr had already fallen on thevanguard. The Scots were riding forward to whelm him when Brian's mendrove down with a wild yell and smote the length of their flank.

  Brian hewed his way to the side of Cathbarr, and then the sword and axflashed side by side. The captain in command of the troopers pistoledCathbarr's
horse, but the huge ax met his steel cap and Cathbarr wasmounted again. Meanwhile, Brian was engaged with a cornet who had greatskill at fencing, and his huge Spanish blade touched the young officerlightly until the Scot pulled forth a pistol, and at that Brian smotewith the edge.

  The muskets and pistols of the troopers worked sad havoc among Brian'smen at first, but there was no chance to reload, and when the officershad gone down the Scots lost heart. They would have trusted to no Gaelicoaths, for men got no quarter in the west, but when Brian shouted atthem in English they listened to him right willingly. A score broke awayand galloped breakneck for the south again, and perhaps fifty had gonedown; the rest gathered about the wagons stared at Brian and Cathbarr insuperstitious awe as the two lowered bloody ax and sword and offeredterms.

  "I offer service to you," said Brian. "I am Brian Buidh, and if you willride with me you shall find war. Those who wish may return to Ennis."

  Now, at the most Brian had some seventy-five men left, and thoseclustered at the wagons were over a hundred and a score, with muskets.But their officers were down, they had received no pay for a year andmore, and they were for the most part Macdonalds of the Isles, who lovedfreebooting better than army work. So out of them all only ten men choseto ride to Ennis again, and Cathbarr shook his head as they departed.

  "It seems to me that ill shall come of this," he said, and wiped his axclean.

  Brian laughed shortly and dismounted. He found that the wagons containedpowder, stores, and muskets; so after placing the wounded in them, herode north to Corrofin that day with close to two hundred men at hisback. Staying that night at Corrofin, he hanged ten of the Scots forplundering, rested his horses for two days, and set his face homewardwith the surety that his men knew him for master.

  The storm of men was gathering fast.