thus to Arthur? Come with
us, and we will not part company till we have won that maiden, or till
thou confess that there is none such in the world.'

Then Arthur summoned his five best men and bade them go with Kilweh.
There was Bedwyr the one-handed, Kai's comrade and brother in arms, the
swiftest man in Britain save Arthur; there was Kynddelig, who knew the
paths in a land where he had never been as surely as he did those of
his own country; there was Gwrhyr, that could speak all tongues; and
Gwalchmai the son of Gwyar, who never returned till he had gained what
he sought; and last of all there was Menw, who could weave a spell over
them so that none might see them, while they could see everyone.

So these seven journeyed together till they reached a vast open plain in
which was a fair castle. But though it seemed so close it was not until
the evening of the third day that they really drew near to it, and in
front of it a flock of sheep was spread, so many in number that there
seemed no end to them. A shepherd stood on a mound watching over them,
and by his side was a dog, as large as a horse nine winters old.

'Whose is this castle, O herdsmen?' asked the knights.

'Stupid are ye truly,' answered the herdsman. 'All the world knows that
this is the castle of Yspaddaden Penkawr.'

'And who art thou?'

'I am called Custennin, brother of Yspaddaden, and ill has he treated
me. And who are you, and what do you here?'

'We come from Arthur the king, to seek Olwen the daughter of
Yspaddaden,' but at this news the shepherd gave a cry:

'O men, be warned and turn back while there is yet time. Others have
gone on that quest, but none have escaped to tell the tale,' and he rose
to his feet as if to leave them. Then Kilweh held out to him a ring of
gold, and he tried to put it on his finger, but it was too small, so he
placed it in his glove, and went home and gave it to his wife.

'Whence came this ring?' asked she, 'for such good luck is not wont to
befall thee.'

'The man to whom this ring belonged thou shalt see here in the evening,'
answered the shepherd; 'he is Kilweh, son of Kilydd, cousin to king
Arthur, and he has come to seek Olwen.' And when the wife heard that she
knew that Kilweh was her nephew, and her heart yearned after him, half
with joy at the thought of seeing him, and half with sorrow for the doom
she feared.

Soon they heard steps approaching, and Kai and the rest entered into the
house and ate a