The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-11-26
III.
sYNoPsIs.

SYNOPSIS.
The scene IA laid in Ireland about the
middle OF the 10th ccntury-an age of super
stitution, bitter feuds and savage violence.
Iurlogh, son Of Fineen, with a bpg5 OF
unwilling clansmen, las dared to approach
u grove haunted by a mysterious being OF
whom the most terrifying tales are told.
His followers dare not proceed; but with
one guide-a man IN monlish garb, profess
ing power over spirits and den.ons--Tur-
logh enters the perilous wood. This COM
panion proves to be his bitterest foe-an
O'Dwyer, sworn TO avenge the death OF
his father (who fell by the hand OF Fneen)
upon the slayer's son. The false monk has
thrown Turlogh upon the ground, driven
q spear blade through his shoulder, and Is
now speaking with his dagger raised to
dispatch him. A furious storm Is raging.
"The false guest ate nothing under
your roof that he did not bring with
him." he said, with sharpness. "The
liar warned you of your fate. And
Iow there viii be no further words.
The storm is not spent, and there rs a
long days journey over the mountain
before me, and l will be taking with RE
your head wrapped in my gown. There
is short minute to you for your
prayers"
a bold peal of thunder rolled over the
face of the thicket, and echoed from
crag to crag along Mount Gabriel's
flank. The blue lights glided again
among the twigs overhead. Turlogh
prayer. He could think only of
Cumara, and the men in the boat. They
loved him, but they would never be
minding him. They were not wrong.
He was no right man TO be lord and
chief over others. His brother
Conogher was more fit. He would be
knowing how to make them obey him.
be learning what black O'Dwyer bad
done. Maybe it would be the man
witch with the beard of feathers wLo
would cause him to learn it. And now
there was no time to find out if such q
man-witch did run his ghastly course
through the little oak wood and the
alder-hollow-or anything else what
ever. The towers of Dunbeal<een--hc
would not be seeing them again, or the
black, fat herds in the bawns, or the
pretty girls weaving their nets, or the
fall of the evening shadows on the gray
waters of Dunmanus--or any sight at
all. He kept bis eyes closed, and bent
his mind upon the familiar things they
would never be looking at more, and
waited.
But now there was noise in the
thicl<et, which was not Of the thunder
or the rushing wind-a noise which
burst suddenly close about him, of saw
age growls and curses, and cracking
branches under foot. The effort to take
account of this gave Turlogh a mo-
Inent's giddiness. The spear had been
wrenched from his shoulder, and zee
deep pain of 1t racked and swayed his
brain toward swooning. Then, getting
his thoughts vaguely back from the
threshold OF death, he opened his eyes.
On the instant, with little cry ofagony
at the woe in his shoulder, he sat up
right and stared white-laced and dumb
with bewilderment.
What Turlogh had not seen. before
he sought the prayers that would not
come, was n dim crouching figure in the
darkness under the rocks, peering out
from the obscurity with eyes alight,
and, in imperceptible edgings forward
coming close to tie back OF ths
ODwycr.
What Turlogh's amazed eyes beheld
were two powerful forms locked in
deadly grip, writhing, rocking, tugging
In frcn1icd passion at each other, and
tearing the soft mosscs and forest ear
pet with their feet rs they fought. with
in apace OF where he sat, As,icl hurled
Upwards frp9l tie ground struck him
snertly on the cheek, lie forced him
self 20 rise TO his feet, and With poised
hands, thrust forward his face in the
effort To scc which was which of the
two combatants. Even above tho pain
CO his wound rose the yiolcrt lust TO
have share il this furious struggle.
But the light WAS low In these depths,