E-text prepared by Steven desJardins and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) Transcriber's note: This novel was originally serialized in four installments in _All-Story Weekly_ magazine from December 30, 1916, to January 20, 1917. The original breaks in the serial have been retained, but summaries of previous events preceding the second, third, and fourth installments have been moved to the end of this e-book. The Table of Contents which follows the introduction was created for this electronic edition. NUALA O'MALLEY by H. BEDFORD-JONES ALL-STORY WEEKLY VOL. LXVI NUMBER 2 SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1916 NUALA O'MALLEY by H. Bedford-Jones Author of "Malay Gold," "The Ghost Hill," "John Solomon, Supercargo," etc. This is a stirring, entrancing story of Erin when Cromwell was campaigning, and when the fighting heritage that is every Irishman's found vent through sword and ax and fire. You meet Brian Buidh, Brian of the Yellow Hair, more thrilling than even your favorite movie hero; and as for Nuala herself--well, just wait till you meet her!--THE EDITOR. TABLE OF CONTENTS Part I I. THE BLACK WOMAN. 177 II. THE BEGINNING OF THE STORM. 179 III. THE DARK MASTER. 182 IV. BRIAN LEANS ON HIS SWORD. 186 V. YELLOW BRIAN RIDES SOUTH. 191 VI. BRIAN TAKES CAPTIVES. 196 VII. THE BIRD DAUGHTER. 201 Part II VIII. HOW BRIAN WAS NETTED. 419 IX. THE NAILING OF BRIAN. 424 X. IN BERTRAGH CASTLE. 429 XI. THE BAITING OF CATHBARR. 434 XII. HOW THE DARK MASTER WAS RUINED. 438 Part III XIII. BRIAN RIDES TO VENGEANCE. 659 XIV. HOW THE STORM FARED NORTH. 664 XV. WHAT HAPPENED AT THE TARN. 670 XVI. BRIAN GETS HIS SWORD AGAIN. 674 XVII. BRIAN GOES A CRUISING. 679 Part IV XVIII. BRIAN YIELDS BERTRAGH. 137 XIX. BRIAN MEETS THE BLACK WOMAN. 142 XX. THE STORM BURSTS. 147 XXI. CATHBARR YIELDS UP HIS AX. 151 XXII. THE STORM OF MEN COMES TO REST. 155 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.