ed the man, with intense humility. "I heard only a
very little at the end, and that so imperfectly that I don't think I can
remember it--I really don't."

"Now, listen," said the princess, with a look that was intended to
scorch. "You know my father."

"Indeed I do,--have known him ever since I was a boy."

"Well, if you ever breathe a word of what you have seen or heard, or
what you think you have seen or heard to-day, to any one, I will set my
father at you, and that, as you know, will mean roasting alive over a
slow fire at the very least."

"And," said Branwen, advancing and shaking her forefinger within an inch
of the man's nose, "I will set _my_ father at you, which will mean slow
torture for hours. Moreover, I will set the Boong-jee-gop on your
track, and that will mean--no, I won't say what. It is too horrible
even to mention!"

"Now--go!" said the princess, pointing to the door.

The servitor went with an air of profound abasement, which changed into
a look of complicated amusement when he got out of sight.

"He is quite safe," said the princess, "not that I count much on his
fear, for he is as brave as a she-wolf with whelps, and fears nothing,
but I know he likes me."

"I think he likes me too," said Branwen, thoughtfully. "Besides, I feel
sure that the Boong-jee-gop has some influence over him. Yes, I think
we are safe."

"Well, now," she continued, resuming the interrupted conversation, "it
seems to me that the only course open to me is to appear to Bladud as a
girl some day, and see if he recognises me. Yet I don't quite like it,
for, now that it is all past and he is well again, I feel half ashamed
of the part I have played--yet how could I help it when I saw the poor
fellow going away to die--alone!"

"You could not help it, dear, and you should not wish it were otherwise.
Now, never mind what you feel about it, but let us lay our heads
together and consider what is to be done. You think, I suppose, that
Bladud may go on for a long time searching for this youth Cormac?"

"Yes, for a very long time, and he'll _never_ find him," replied Branwen
with a merry laugh.

"Well, then, we must find some means of getting him home without letting
him know why we want him," continued the princess.

"Just so, but that won't be easy," returned the other with a significant
look, "for he is _very_ fond of Cormac, and won't easily be made to give
up looking for him."

"You conceited creature, you