feared his legs were too long," observed another. Most of the
people, however, looked on in anxious silence.

"I did not think he would give in so easily," murmured little Maikar
regretfully.

"He has not given in yet," returned the captain, with a satisfied nod.
"See--he pulls up!"

This was true. To the unbounded surprise of the spectators, Bladud had
actually stopped a moment to tighten his belt at the beginning of the
tenth round. Then, to their still greater amazement, he put on what we
may call an Olympic spurt, so that he overtook his rival in less than a
quarter of a minute; passed him easily, ran over the rest of the course
at a rate which had not been equalled since Old Albion was created, and
passed the winning-post full five hundred yards in advance of Gunrig,
amid yells of delight and roars of laughter, which continued for some
time--bursting forth again and again as the novelty and surprise of the
thing became more and more forced home to the spectators' minds.

"You have met more than your match to-day, Gunrig," remarked the king,
with a laugh, as the defeated man strode angrily up to the platform.

"I have met foul play," replied the chief angrily. "He pretended that
he could not run, else would I have put on more force. But it matters
not. I will have another opportunity of trying him. Meanwhile, there
is yet the heavy stone to throw. How now, wench?" he added, turning
fiercely on Branwen, who had nearly hidden her face in her shawl, "do
you try to hide that you are laughing at me?"

Poor Branwen was in anything but a laughing mood. She was too much
afraid of the fiery chief for that, and had merely covered her face, as
a modern beauty might drop her veil, to avoid his gaze.

The fair-haired Hafrydda, however, was not so timid, her smile was
evidently one of amusement at his defeat, which angered him all the
more.

"Gunrig," said the king, drawing himself up, and speaking impressively,
"remember that you are my guest, and that it ill becomes you to insult
my women before my face."

"Pardon me," replied the chief, with an effort to recover himself. "You
must remember that I am not accustomed to defeat."

"True," returned the king blandly, "so now you had better take to the
heavy stone and come off the victor."

Gunrig at once went down into the arena and sent a challenge to Bladud.

The latter had returned to his place among the spectators, but his
height rendered him easy to fin