Then Ludar could wait no longer, but summoned me to my feet, and stalked up the valley.

We had gone about an hour, when a loud tramp and shouting ahead, together with a vision of wild figures on the hills on either hand, told us that the long expected meeting had come at last.

The next turn of the valley brought us full in view of the McDonnell host.

It stretched in a wild irregular line far up the glen, the men marching four or five abreast, armed, some with spears, some with swords and bucklers, others with bows, and a very few with firearms.

They sang a loud wailing song as they marched, mingled with cries of defiance, and now and then of laughter.