"I don't think so," said I; "after braving a thousand tempests, it was
meeter for it to fall of itself than to be vanquished at last. But to
return to Ab Gwilym's poetry, he was above culling dainty words, and
spoke boldly his mind on all subjects. Enraged with the thunder for
parting him and Morfydd, he says, at the conclusion of his ode:--

'My curse, O Thunder, cling to thee,
For parting my dear pearl and me'."

"You and I shall part; that is, I shall go to my tent if you persist in
repeating from him. The man must have been a savage. A poor wood-pigeon
has fallen dead."

"Yes," said I, "there he lies just outside the tent; often have I
listened to his note when alone in this wilderness. So you do not like
Ab Gwilym; what say you to old Gothe:--

'Mist shrouds the night, and rack;
Hear, in the woods, what an awful crack!
Wildly the owls are flitting,
Hark to the pillars splitting
Of palaces verdant ever,
The branches quiver and sever,
The mighty stems are creaking,
The poor roots breaking and shrieking,
In wild mixt ruin down dashing,
O'er one another they're crashing;
Whilst 'midst the rocks so hoary,
Whirlwinds hurry and worry.
Hear'st not, sister--'"

"Hark!" said Belle, "hark!"

"'Hear'st not, sister, a chorus
Of voices--?'"

"No," said Belle, "but I hear a voice."

CHAPTER XCVI.

I listened attentively, but I could hear nothing but the loud clashing of
branches, the pattering of rain, and the muttered growl of thunder. I
was about to tell Belle that she must have been mistaken, when I heard a
shout, indistinct it is true, owing to the noises aforesaid, from some
part of the field above the dingle. "I will soon see what's the matter,"
said I to Belle, starting up. "I will go, too," said the girl. "Stay
where you are," said I; "if I need you, I will call;" and, without
waiting for any answer, I hurried to the mouth of the dingle. I was
about a few yards only from the top of the ascent, when I beheld a blaze
of light, from whence I knew not; the next moment there was a loud crash,
and I appeared involved in a cloud of sulphurous smoke. "Lord have mercy
upon us," I heard a voice say, and methought I heard the plunging and
struggling of horses. I had stopped short on hearing the crash, for I
was half stunned; but I now hurried forward, and in a moment stood upon
the plain. Here I was instantly aware of the cause of the crash and t