d band to get ready,
instantly, but he roused the whole country around, and started off that
same day with all his followers armed to the teeth. Of course I led
them. In due course we arrived at my hut, when--lo! I found that the
bird was flown!"

"I could see by the appearance of things," continued the Hebrew, "that
the foolish girl had left of her own will, for there was no evidence of
violence anywhere--which would doubtless have been the case if robbers
had found her and carried her away, for they would certainly have
carried off some of my goods along with her. The rage of her father on
making this discovery was terrible. He threatened at once to cut off my
old head, and even drew his sword with intent to act the part of
executioner. But I reminded him that if he did so, he would cut off the
only head that knew anything about his daughter, and that I had still
some knowledge regarding her with which he was not acquainted.

"This arrested his hand just in time, for I actually fancied that I had
begun to feel the edge of his sword slicing into my spinal marrow. When
he had calmed himself enough to listen, I told him that Branwen had
spoken about paying a visit to the Hot Springs--that I knew she was bent
on going there, for some reason that I could not understand, and that I
thought it more than likely she had gone. `Axe-men, to the front! Form
long line! hooroo!' yelled the chief--(or something of that sort, for
I'm a man of peace, and don't understand warlike orders), and away went
the whole host at a run, winding through the forest like a great snake;
Gadarn and I leading them, except when the thickets became impenetrable,
and then the axe-men were ordered to the front and soon broke them down.
And so, in course of time, we came within a few miles of the Hot Swamp,
and--and, as I have said, I have been permitted to turn aside to visit
you."

"Truly a strange tale," remarked the prince. "And is the armed host of
Gadarn actually within a few miles of us?"

"It is; and, to say truth, I have come out to search for you chiefly to
inquire whether you have seen any young woman at all resembling Branwen
during your wanderings in this region?"

The Hebrew looked keenly at the prince as he put this question.

"You forget I have never seen this girl, and, therefore, could not know
her even if I had met her. But, in truth, I have not seen any woman,
young or old, since I came here. Nor have I seen any human