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Updated: June 14, 2025
Cathbarr's head was bared, while he had steel cap and jack; but for some reason he felt hesitant at thought of killing this merry giant. "Not so bad," he said, baring his five-foot blade and holding it up against the huge ax. "Not so bad, eh?" Cathbarr burst into a laugh. "It will grieve me to crush your skull, dear man," he rumbled. "What a pair we would make, matched against that Dark Master!
This had been left in charge of a hundred men under Red Murrough, who had not been slain, but only wounded by Cathbarr's fist, that night in the great hall. Having left a party to bring in the wounded in wagons from the farms, they arrived before the castle shortly after noon.
The captain in command of the troopers pistoled Cathbarr's horse, but the huge ax met his steel cap and Cathbarr was mounted again. Meanwhile, Brian was engaged with a cornet who had great skill at fencing, and his huge Spanish blade touched the young officer lightly until the Scot pulled forth a pistol, and at that Brian smote with the edge.
She had known nothing of Cathbarr's deeds at the castle until Brian had told her of them, and on seeing that the giant was among those coming off, she smiled at Brian. "Now you shall see how a girl can conquer a giant, Yellow Brian!" Brian laughed and waved a hand to Turlough, who was beside Cathbarr in the boat.
All the while his eyes were fixed on the Dark Master, while the whole hall watched him in awe; not even Brian or O'Donnell himself guessed what that slow movement of Cathbarr's body boded. "Best put chains upon him, Murrough," said the Dark Master, his teeth shining under his drooping mustache. Vere cried out in sudden wonder. "'Fore Gad! Look!"
Brian saw Turlough behind that tale, but Cathbarr was no man to carry it off with success. "Well," laughed the Dark Master, "none the less shall Brian be slain. Carry back that word to Nuala O'Malley." Cathbarr's mighty chest heaved like a barrel near to bursting. Brian was minded to break his promise, but Murrough's pistol was at his head, and he could but lie quietly and watch.
Out through the door poured a stream of maddened figures, for blind panic had come on every man there, and Cathbarr's was not the only weapon that drew blood as the men fought for exit. Brian laughed again, for now he knew that he would die in no long time, but it would not be under the torturers.
So, leaving them to follow, he and Turlough went on at their best speed, and twenty minutes later they topped that same long rise from which Brian had first gazed down on the little promontory where stood Cathbarr's tower. But now, as he saw what lay beneath, he drew up with a shout of amazement.
The Dark Master flung back his head in a laugh, and when the men saw his jest, a great howl of derision rang up to the rafters. Only Vere's officers looked on with black faces, for it was plain that this affair was none of their liking. A look of simple wonder came into Cathbarr's wide-set eyes. "Why do you not loose him?" he asked quietly. "Fetch the man out, Murrough," ordered the Dark Master.
A pistol roared into his stubbly beard and the ball carried off his steel cap, but he cut down the man and pressed into the midst of the pirates, cutting and thrusting in terrible rage. At sight of him men bore back; the icy flame in his eyes took the heart from those who faced him, and behind rose Cathbarr's wild bellows as the giant hewed through after Brian.
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