to you."

"You are wonderfully inhospitable," returned the stranger, as the prince
issued from the hut and stood up with an inquiring look which suddenly
changed to one of astonishment.

"Beniah!" he exclaimed.

"Even so," replied the Hebrew, holding out his hand, but Bladud drew
back.

"What! will you neither permit me to enter your house nor shake your
hand? I was not so churlish when you visited my dwelling."

"You know well, old man, that I do not grudge hospitality, but fear to
infect you."

"Yes, I know it well," rejoined the Hebrew, smiling, "and knowing that
you were here, I turned aside on my journey to inquire as to your
welfare."

"I have much to say about my welfare and strange things to tell you, but
first let me know what has brought you to this part of the land--for if
you have turned aside to see me--seeing me has not been your main
object."

"You are right. Yet it pleases me well to use this opportunity, and to
see by your looks and bearing, that the disease seems to have been
arrested."

"Yes, thanks be to the All-seeing One, I am well, or nearly so. But
proceed to explain the reason of your journey."

"The cause of it is the unaccountable disappearance of the girl named
Branwen."

"What! she who is the bosom friend of my sister Hafrydda?"

"The same. She had fled, you may remember, from your father's court for
fear of being compelled to wed with Gunrig, the chief whose crown you
cracked so deftly on the day of your arrival. She, poor thing, took
refuge at first with me. I hid her for some time--"

"Then," interrupted the prince, "she must have been hidden in your hut
at the time of my visit!"

"She was. But that was no business of yours."

"Surely it was, old man, for my father's business is my business."

"Yea, but it was not my business to enlighten you, or the king either,
while I had reason to know that he meant unduly to coerce the maiden.
However, there she was hidden, as I tell you. Now, you are aware that
Branwen's father Gadarn is a great chief, whose people live far away in
the northern part of Albion. I bade Branwen remain close in my hut, in
a secret chamber, while I should go and acquaint her father with her
position, and fetch him down with a strong band of his retainers to
rescue her. You should have seen the visage of Gadarn, when I told him
the news. A wild boar of the woods could scarce have shown his tusks
more fiercely. He not only ordered an arme