it into three bands. My lieutenant shall head one. You, Bladud,shall lead another, and I myself will head the third, guided by Beniah.Away!"
With a wave of both hands Gadarn dismissed those around him, and retiredto his booth to arm himself, and prepare for the pending search.
The Hebrew was sorely tempted just then to speak out, but his solemnpromise to Branwen sealed his lips. The fact also that the girl seemedreally to have disappeared, filled him with alarm as well as surprise,and made him anxious to participate in the search. In a perplexed stateof mind, and unenviable temper, he went away with Bladud to the placewhere the force was being marshalled.
"Strange that fate should send us on a double search of this kind,"remarked the prince as they hurried along.
"Whether fate sent us, or some mischievous sprite, I know not," growledthe Hebrew, "but there is no need for more than one search."
"How!" exclaimed Bladud sternly. "Think you that my poor lad's fate isnot of as much interest to me as that of Gadarn's daughter is to him?"
"Nay, verily, I presume not to gauge the interest of princes andchiefs," returned Beniah, with an exasperated air. "All I know is, thatif we find the lad, we are full sure to find the lass not far off."
"How? You speak in riddles to-day."
"Ay, and there are like to be more riddles tomorrow, for what the upshotof it will be is more than I can tell. See you not that, as the twowere lost about the same time, and near the same place, they willprobably be found together?"
"Your wits seem to be shaken to-day, old man," rejoined Bladud, smiling,"for these two were not lost about the same place or time."
Fortunately for the Hebrew's peace of mind, an officer accosted them atthat moment, and, directing the one to head a band just ready to march,led the other to the force which was to be commanded by the chief inperson.
In a few minutes the three bands were in motion, the main bodiesmarching north, south, and east, while strong parties were sent out fromeach to skirmish in all directions.
"Think you we shall find them, Hebrew?" asked the chief, who seemed tobe in a curiously impulsive state of mind.
"I trust we may. It seems to me almost certain."
"I hope so, for your sake as well as my own, old man; for, if we do not,I will surely cut your head off for bringing me here for nothing."
"Does it not seem unjust to punish a man for doing his best?" askedBeniah.
"It may seem so to you men of the east, but to the men of the westjustice is not held of much account."
Proceeding round by the Hot Springs, the party led by Gadarn made acareful inspection of every cavern, defile, glade, and thicket,returning at evening towards the camp from which they set out, it havingbeen arranged that they were all to meet there and start again to renewthe search, in a wider circle, on the following morning.
"No success," remarked Gadarn sternly, unbuckling his sword and flingingit violently on the ground.
"Not yet, but we may have better fortune tomorrow," said Beniah.
"Don't you think the small footprints we saw near the Springs were thoseof the boy?"
"They may have been."
"And those that we saw further on, but lost sight of in the rockyground--did they not look like those of a girl?"
"They certainly did."
"And yet strangely like to each other," said the chief.
"Marvellously," returned Beniah.
A slight sound in Gadarn's nose caused the Hebrew to look up quickly,but the chief was gazing with stern gravity out at the opening of hisbooth, where the men of his force could be seen busily at work fellingtrees, kindling fires, and otherwise preparing for the evening meal.
CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.
MORE SECRETS AND SURPRISES.
All went well with the party that conducted Branwen to King Hudibras'town until they reached the hut of Beniah the Hebrew, when the ladsuggested to the leader of the escort that they should put up there, asit was too late to think of intruding on the king that night.
As the lieutenant had been told to pay particular regard to the wishesof his charge, he at once agreed. Indeed, during the journey, Cormac(as we may here continue to call the girl) had expressed his wishes withsuch a quiet, matter-of-course air of authority that the officer incharge had come to the conclusion that the youth must be the son of someperson of importance--perhaps even of King Hudibras himself. Hetherefore accorded him implicit obedience and deference.
"The hut is too small for all of us," said Cormac; "the greater numberof your men must sleep outside; but that does not matter on so fine anight."
"True, it matters nothing," replied the officer. "We will all of us supand sleep round the campfires."
"Nay, you and your lieutenant will sup with me. Afterwards you can jointhe men. By-the-by, there is an old woman here, who takes charge--orought to take charge--of the Hebrew's dwelling during his absence."
"I have not seen her," said the officer.
"True--but she will no doubt make her appearance soon. Let her come andgo as she pleases without hindrance. It is not safe to thwart her, forher temper is none of the sweetest, and she is apt to scratch."
Supper was soon over, for the party had travelled all day, and wereweary. When it was finished Cormac again cautioned the officers not tointerfere with the old woman, for she was dangerous.
"I will have a care," said the officer, laughing, as he and hissubaltern rose, bade their charge good-night, and took their leave.
The instant they were gone Branwen pushed the plank-bridge across thechasm, and disappeared in the secret cave.
Half an hour later the two officers were seated with some of the men atthe camp-fire nearest the hut, making preparations for going to rest,when they were startled by the creaking of the hut door. To theirintense surprise it opened wide enough to let a little old woman stepout. She was much bent, wore an old grey shawl over her head, andleaned on a staff. For some moments she looked from side to side as ifin search of something.
"See! the old woman!" murmured the officer in a low whisper.
"True, but we did not see her enter the hut," replied the sub with asolemn look.
In those days witchcraft was implicitly believed in, so, when they sawthe old creature hobble towards them, they experienced feelings of alarmthat had never yet affected their manly bosoms in danger or in war.Their faces paled a little, but their courage stood the test, for theysat still till she came close enough to let her piercing dark eyes beseen peering at them like those of a basilisk from out the folds of theshawl that enveloped her.
"Y-you are the--the old woman, I suppose?" said the officer in adeferential tone.
"Yes, I am the old woman, young man, and you will be an old woman toowhen you reach my time of life," she replied, in a deep metallic voice.
"I hope not," returned the officer, sincerely.
"At all events you'll be a dead man before long if you don't attend towhat I say," continued the woman. "Your young master in the hut theretold me to tell you that he is tired and wants a good long rest, so youare not to disturb him in the morning till he calls you. D'you hear?"
"I hear, and will obey."
"Eh? What? Speak out. I'm deaf."
"I hear, and will attend to your wishes."
"Humph! it will be worse for you if you don't," muttered the old hag, asshe turned away, hobbled into the woods, and slowly disappeared.
It need scarcely be said that the lieutenant and his sub did not sleepmuch that night. They discussed the subject of witches, their powersand propensities, and the bad luck likely to attend those who actuallyhad the misfortune to see them, until the hair on their heads betrayed atendency to rise, and the grey dawn began to appear. Then they lay downand indulged in some fitful slumber. But the discomforts of the nightwere as nothing to the anxieties of the morning, for the lazy Cormacseemed to have gone in for an extent of slumber that was out of allreason, considering his circumstances. The ordinary breakfast hourarrived, but there was no i
ntimation of his having awoke. Hours passed,but there was no call from the hut, and the officer, withever-increasing anxiety, bade his men to kick up a row--or words to thateffect. No command they ever received was more easy of fulfilment.They laughed and talked; they cut down trees and cleaned their breakfastutensils with overwhelming demonstration; they shouted, they even sangand roared in chorus, but without effect. Noon arrived and passed,still Cormac slept on. It was worse than perplexing--it was becomingdesperate!
The officer commanding the party was a brave man; so was the sub. Theirnative courage overcame their superstitious fears.
"I'll be battle-axed!" exclaimed the first, using a very objectionableold British oath, "if I don't rouse