tion>H. Bedford-Jones
Nuala O'Malley
Published by Good Press, 2019
EAN 4064066209001
Table of Contents
CHAPTER II. THE BEGINNING OF THE STORM.
CHAPTER IV. BRIAN LEANS ON HIS SWORD.
CHAPTER V. YELLOW BRIAN RIDES SOUTH.
CHAPTER VI. BRIAN TAKES CAPTIVES.
CHAPTER VII. THE BIRD DAUGHTER.
Nuala O'Malley by H. Bedford-Jones
CHAPTER VIII. HOW BRIAN WAS NETTED.
CHAPTER IX. THE NAILING OF BRIAN.
CHAPTER X. IN BERTRAGH CASTLE.
CHAPTER XI. THE BAITING OF CATHBARR.
CHAPTER XII. HOW THE DARK MASTER WAS RUINED.
Nuala O'Malley by H. Bedford-Jones
CHAPTER XIII. BRIAN RIDES TO VENGEANCE.
CHAPTER XIV. HOW THE STORM FARED NORTH.
CHAPTER XV. WHAT HAPPENED AT THE TARN.
CHAPTER XVI. BRIAN GETS HIS SWORD AGAIN.
CHAPTER XVII. BRIAN GOES A CRUISING.
Nuala O'Malley by H. Bedford-Jones
CHAPTER XVIII. BRIAN YIELDS BERTRAGH.
CHAPTER XIX. BRIAN MEETS THE BLACK WOMAN.
CHAPTER XXI. CATHBARR YIELDS UP HIS AX.
CHAPTER XXII. THE STORM OF MEN COMES TO REST.
CHAPTER I.
THE BLACK WOMAN.
The horseman reined in as his jaded steed scrambled up the shelving bank, and for a space sat there motionless, for which the horse gave mute thanks. The moon was struggling to heave through fleecy clouds, as it was hard on midnight; in the half obscurity the rider gazed around suspiciously.
There was nothing in sight to cause any man fear. Behind him rippled the Dee, and all around was desolation. Ardee itself lay a good two miles in the rear, burned and laid waste six weeks before, and ten miles to the south lay Drogheda. Indeed, as the horseman gazed about, he caught sight of a faint glare on the horizon that drew a bitter word from his lips.
Dismounting with some difficulty, owing to his cloak and Spanish hat, he examined a long, raking gash in his horse's flank; then flung off hat and cloak and calmly proceeded to bind up his own naked shoulder beneath.
His was a strange figure, indeed, now that he stood revealed. He wore no clothing save breeches and high riding-boots; an enormous sword without a sheath was girt about his waist, and the caked blood on his shoulder and cheek made his fair skin stand out with startling contrast.
About his shoulders fell long hair of ruddy yellow, while his face was young and yet very bitter, tortured by both physical and mental anguish, as it seemed. He bound up the deep slash in his shoulder with a strip of cloth torn from his cloak, felt his wealed cheek tenderly, then flung the cloak about him again and drew down his broad-brimmed hat as he turned to his weary horse.
"Well, my friend," and his voice sounded whimsical for all its rich tone, "you've had a change of masters to-day, eh? I'd like to spare you, but man's life is first, though Heaven knows it's worth little in Ireland this day!" With that he reeled and caught at the saddle for support, put down his head, and sobbed unrestrainedly.
"Oh, my God!" he groaned at length, straightening himself to shake a clenched and blood-splashed fist at the sky. "Where were You this day? God! God! The blood of men on Thine altars—"
"Faith, you must be new come to Ireland, then!"
At the shrill, mocking voice the man whirled about and his huge blade was out like a flash. But only a cackling laugh answered him, as down from the bank above slipped a perfect hag of a creature, and he drew back in alarm. At that instant the moon flooded out; his sudden motion had flung off his wide hat, and he stood staring at the wrinkled creature whose scanty garments and thin-shredded gray locks were pierced by a pair of weird brown eyes.
Then he quivered indeed, and even the poor horse took a step backward, for the old woman had flung up her arms with a shrill cry as she gazed on the yellow-haired
