animal older than I;' and the
stag ran before them till he reached the owl of Cwm Cawlwyd. But when
they inquired of the owl if he knew aught of Mabon he shook his head.

'When first I came hither,' said he, 'the valley was a wooded glen; then
a race of men came and rooted it up. After that there grew a second
wood, and then a third, which you see. Look at my wings also--are they
not withered stumps? Yet until to-day I have never heard of the man you
name. Still, I will guide you to the oldest animal in the world, and the
one that has travelled most, the eagle of Gwern Abbey.' And he flew
before them, as fast as his old wings would carry him, till he reached
the eagle of Gwern Abbey, but when they inquired of the eagle whether he
knew aught of Mabon he shook his head.

[Illustration: The Stag of Redynvre brings the Seven Companions to the
Owl of Cwm Cawlwyd]

'When I first came hither,' said the eagle, 'there was a rock here, and
every evening I pecked at the stars from the top of it. Now, behold, it
is not even a span high! But only once have I heard of the man you name,
and that was when I went in search of food as far as Llyn Llyw. I
swooped down upon a salmon, and struck my claws into him, but he drew me
down under water till scarcely could I escape from him. Then I summoned
all my kindred to destroy him, but he made peace with me, and I took
fifty fish spears from his back. Unless he may know something of the man
whom you seek I cannot tell who may. But I will guide you to the place
where he is.'

So they followed the eagle, who flew before them, though so high was he
in the sky, it was often hard to mark his flight. At length he stopped
above a deep pool in a river.

'Salmon of Llyn Llyw,' he called, 'I have come to thee with an embassy
from Arthur to inquire if thou knowest aught concerning Mabon the son of
Modron?' And the Salmon answered:

'As much as I know I will tell thee. With every tide I go up the river,
till I reach the walls of Gloucester, and there have I found such wrong
as I never found elsewhere. And that you may see that what I say is true
let two of you go thither on my shoulders.' So Kai and Gwrhyr went upon
the shoulders of the salmon, and were carried under the walls of the
prison, from which proceeded the sound of great weeping.

'Who is it that thus laments in this house of stone?'

'It is I, Mabon the son of Modron.'

'Will silver or gold bring thy freedom, or only battle and fight