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During the rest of the day the cannon stood there silent, dead horses and men around it; nor was any further attack made. Brian knew well that having found him prepared, the Dark Master would now attack at night and hard did Brian pray that the storm might abate from the west, or at least shift around, so that Nuala's ships could come to his aid.
The arrangements having been perfected, Brian saw his three hundred men troop off on their march over the hills, after which he told Nuala at greater length all that had taken place in the castle since his parting with her at sea. Bitter and unrestrained were the curses of the O'Malleys as they heard of how his men had been poisoned, while Nuala's eyes flamed forth anger.
Brian did not understand it, but he was quite willing to accept it, and when the talk turned on personal matters he was careful to ask no questions concerning Nuala's plans for the future. Instead, he told her tales of his life at the Spanish court, which interested her vastly, until in the end she broke forth with a passionate outburst.
Driving past Nuala's ship, Brian saw that she had also grappled and that the battle was raging over her bulwarks, but sorely tempted to turn aside though he was, he waved his men on. They rowed close under the ship to which she was fastened, and as they sped past the O'Donnells saw them, and gave them a scattering volley.
Now, sharply outlined against the crimson water, appeared Nuala's four ships close on those of the pirates. Even as he looked, Brian saw their cannon spit out white smoke, while from behind came a deeper thunder as the castle's guns sent their heavy balls over the pirate ships.
For around the tower and at the base at the neck of land were camped a goodly force of men, while at anchor near the tower lay not Nuala's two ships alone, but also those other two of her kinsmen! "Those two O'Malleys have returned from the south," exclaimed Turlough in wild delight. "That means more men and ships, master we will cut off those Millhaven pirates to a man!"
O'Donnell has no more than are in the castle, and a score of our own men are on the roads, watching for any ill." "How many men have we in all?" spoke up Lame Art O'Malley. "In our ships there are sixty men we can spare for land battle." "That gives us three hundred in all," replied Turlough to Nuala's questioning glance.
He started to his feet, gazed around sheepishly, found all men laughing at him and did the best thing he could have done, which was to go to his knees again and put Nuala's hand to his lips. "While my master serves you, I serve you," he blurted out, and this answer must have pleased Nuala mightily, for she flushed, laughed, and bade all down into the cabin.
Now, as he listened, there came a ragged roar of musketry, pierced by yells, and he knew that the camp was attacked. With that, a sudden fear came on him that he would again be outwitted. There was a thin mist driving in from the sea which would be dissipated with the daybreak, and if the Dark Master was on one of the ships he might get away before Nuala's caracks could arrive.
So Turlough had decided, however, and he stuck to it. Brian then described closely how the four pirate ships lay in the bay under Bertragh, while Shaun went out to arrange the distribution of his men on Nuala's ships.
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