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escape if the castle were besieged, and like to fall by force or famine;

moreover it would enable them to send out messengers or receive messages

from without. A passage four feet high and two feet wide would suffice.

They may have driven such a passage from some place in the wood behind and

it may come up somewhere in the courtyard, perhaps in one of the little

huts along the side. Of course the entrance would be covered here by a

stone, and would be hidden among the bushes at the other end. Still I do

not think that this is likely, for a hostile force would almost certainly

take up its post in that wood, and attack the place in the rear. If there

is such a passage I think that it must open somewhere on the face of the

rock, on one side or the other. It looks to us almost perpendicular, but

there may be inequalities by which active men might ascend at some point or

other. For a considerable distance we could see there were tufts of shrubs

growing here and there, and one of these may conceal a small opening. From

this point a staircase may have been driven up into the castle."

"That would be very awkward, master, if it were so."

"It would indeed. To-night all the force except the sentries shall gather

in the castle, where ten men by turns shall keep guard, one or two being

placed in the lower chambers. In this way we shall be safe; for before more

than three or four can enter we should be all on foot, and as they can but

come up in single file, could repulse them without difficulty. Tomorrow we

will lower men down with ropes from the walls, and examine every clump of

bushes growing on the face of the rock If we find any signs of a path or

entrance we shall have no difficulty in discovering where it enters into

the castle, and can effectually block it up. I shall then feel much more

comfortable than I do at present."

"I was looking forward to a good night's sleep," Osgod grumbled, "but your

idea, master, has quite done away with that. If I went off I should dream

that I had one of those Welsh wolves at my throat. However, it is a good

thing that you thought of it."

"I think, my lord," one of the soldiers said, "there are a number of our

men among the Welsh. I can make out helmets and shields, and I think many

are clad in leather jerkins."

Wulf looked attentively.

"Yes, there are certainly shields and helmets," he said. "I fear there is

no doubt they have overtaken Oswald's levies."

"And have made them prisoners?"

Wulf shook his head. "They never take prisoners, you know. I fear they have

slain them all and possessed themselves of their arms and clothes. In no

other way can there be Saxon shields and helmets among them."

"By St. Nicholas!" Osgod exclaimed, "it is too bad that we should be

standing here doing nothing. Why doesn't Llewellyn attack us instead of

keeping his men gaping there at the castle?"

"Because at present he can do nothing, and is not fool enough to throw away

hundreds of lives; besides, he must know that his mother and children are

in our hands."

Presently a white flag was raised among the Welsh. Wulf had expected this,

and had ordered a white cloth to be held in readiness to raise in reply. As

soon as this flew out to the wind three men were seen to advance with the

flag towards the foot of the road up to the castle. Wulf at once sent for

the two interpreters to join him.

"Shall you let them come up, master?" Osgod asked. "They are as treacherous

as snakes. See how that boy led us astray in the bog."

"You cannot get that boy out of your head, Osgod," Wulf laughed. "There is

no conceivable way by which three men could recapture this castle. There is

nothing for them to learn. They know its strength and everything connected

with it, and they can see for themselves that we have destroyed the bridge.

I shall be glad to hear what they have to say. Llewellyn himself is, most

likely, one of the number."

The little party mounted the road until they stood on the platform from

which the bridge started. One of them was a tall figure, dressed in armour,

and with long black hair flowing down from under his helmet over his

shoulders. Wulf at once, from the descriptions he had heard of the chief's

appearance, recognized him as Llewellyn ap Rhys.

"I would speak with the commander of the Saxons who have, in my absence,

taken my castle by treachery."

"I am the commander," Wulf said.

The Welshman's fingers clenched, and he glanced furiously at the young

Saxon. By a great effort, however, he restrained his passion, and said

courteously: "I am Llewellyn ap Rhys. To whom have I the pleasure of

speaking?"

"I am Wulf of Steyning, prince. I don't know altogether that I have taken

your castle by treachery, indeed I claim to have won it by fair fighting.

You went out with your force to attack me among the hills, and during your

absence I attacked and captured your castle. I will do your garrison credit

to say they fought bravely in spite of the surprise. I would gladly have

given them quarter, but they refused my offers, and, save a few wounded,

whom I allowed the women to carry off, died to a man fighting bravely. No

women were hurt or insulted, save those who took up arms and fought among

the men, and it was no fault of ours that they were killed. Methinks that

in your incursions into England you have not always shown the same mercy."

Llewellyn was silent for a minute. He had indeed never shown any pity in

his forays, but had never expected that his castle and family would be in

the hands of the Saxons.

"I learn," he said at last, "from the women, that my mother and my children

are alive in your hands, and I thank you for the honorable treatment I hear

that they have received."

"They are safe and well," Wulf replied. "We Saxons do not massacre women

and children in cold blood. They will be honourably treated until I can

hand them over to the care of Earl Gurth, who will doubtless send them to

England as hostages."

"I shall try to win back my castle," Llewellyn said. "May I be sure that

whatever happens they will be safe?"

"You may. Even were you forcing your way into the castle I will guarantee

that no hair of their heads shall be injured. And now, prince, it is my

turn to question. I see Saxon helmets and shields among your followers.

Whence come they?"

A cloud passed over Llewellyn's face. He had not reckoned on their being

observed from the castle. Concealment was now out of question, and he said

boldly: "I defeated a party of your countrymen this morning. They came with

hostile intent into my territory, and they have been destroyed." Although

he had expected the answer, Wulf was shocked at the confirmation of his

fears. Llewellyn, indeed, had fallen on Oswald's levies and annihilated

them soon after daybreak. Having no idea that a party had separated from

them during the night, he was returning exulting in the idea that he had

destroyed the whole of the invaders, when the news had reached him of the

capture of his castle. Wulf was silent. "It is the fortune of war," he

said gravely. "It is not to me that you have to reckon for the deed, but

with Earl Gurth, for whom I hold this castle."

Llewellyn made no reply, but with a wave of his hand turned and went down

the hill again.

"I am even more than before convinced, Osgod, that there is a secret

passage. I was watching him closely when the interpreter told him that I

should hand his mother and children over to Gurth. He pressed his lips

together, and his face lighted up with exultation for a moment."

"What do you think he came here for, master?"

"He came here to assure himself if possible that their lives would not be

sacrificed in the event of his attacking."

"It is a pity you told him they would be safe," Osgod said.

"But they will be safe, and even if we are surprised and slain I would not

that Llewellyn should say that it was only the suddenness of his attack

that saved their lives. I will place two of our best men at their door with

orders that come what may they are to prevent anyone from entering. But I

don't think it will come to that. Should the passage enter into the castle,

as, if it exists, I have no doubt it does, we shall be prepared to deal

with them, if it opens elsewhere we shall have all our force save a few

sentries assembled, and though all the walls fall into their hands, we

ought to be able to hold it successfully till Gurth arrives to our rescue."

Wulf returned to the castle, and then joined Beorn at his post on the wall

facing the wood. He communicated to him his ideas as to the probable

existence of a secret passage.

"We must provide a mode of retreat for your men on guard here, Beorn, in

case the Welsh enter by either of these yards instead of by the castle.

These flanking towers at the angles of the walls cut off all passage. We

will construct bridges with two or three planks across these towers, so

that your sentries can retreat from the rear wall to the next, and again on

to the inner wall. The doors between the courtyards shall be closed, so

that should they enter either of these outer courts they will be delayed,

and your men will have plenty of time to join us in the defence of the last

wall. However, I am convinced the castle itself will be the scene of

action. Five sentries will be enough to place on this wall. I will put two

on each of the cross walls, so that if your men give the alarm it will be

passed along speedily. I shall remove the last plank of the bridge at

nightfall, and have Osgod and four men in the turret and two on the wall

above them. We shall therefore have fifty-five men in the castle, and that

should be ample. They can keep watch and watch, so there will be over

twenty-five men under arms, and ready to throw themselves upon the Welsh

wherever they may enter."

These arrangements were carried out. At ten o'clock all lights were

extinguished, save a torch burning in each room on the ground floor. The

floors and walls had been carefully examined and sounded, but nothing

suspicious had been discovered. Four men were told off to each room except

the great hall, where twenty were gathered in reserve. Half were to keep

watch, but all were to lie down. The orders to those who were to keep awake

were strict If they heard a noise or saw a stone move they were to keep

silent, until two or three men had stepped out, then they were to give the

alarm, leap up, and throw themselves upon them.

"Were the alarm given," he said, "before they fairly issued out the stone

might be moved back again, and it would give us immense trouble before we

could demolish it or find the secret of the spring. Therefore, let them get

a footing first."

From time to time either Beorn or Wulf got up and went noiselessly round to

the different rooms to see that the watch was vigilant. As had been

arranged, each of those on guard raised a hand as they entered a room, so

as to show that they were awake. Wulf did not expect that any attempt would

be made before midnight. After that hour he sat in a corner of the dais,

leaning as if asleep, but with his eyes wandering round the room watching

every stone, and his ears listening for the faintest sound. He had no

feeling of sleepiness whatever, his senses being all strung up to the

highest pitch.

From time to time he held up a hand, and ten others were at once elevated,

showing that the watchers were as vigilant as himself. It was, he thought,

about one o'clock when he heard a faint creaking sound. It did not seem to

him to be in the hall itself, but in a room adjoining it, the doors having

all been left open. He rose to his feet, touched Beorn, who lay a pace or

two away, and stole noiselessly out, grasping his sword in his hand. He

stopped before he got to the open door of the next room and listened. All

seemed perfectly quiet. He stood motionless, until a minute later there was

a sudden shout, followed almost instantly by a clash of arms.

With a shout to his followers Wulf ran into the room. The four Saxons were

on their feet, and were attacking three men, who, as he entered, were

joined by a fourth from behind. He and Beorn threw themselves into the fray

just as one of the Saxons fell with his head cloven by a sweeping blow from

the tall figure opposed to him. One after another in rapid succession the

Welsh poured in from a narrow opening, but the Saxons rushed up in

overwhelming numbers. There was a brief fierce fight, and the Welsh were

slain or overpowered. The men who last emerged turned to fly, but meeting

those crowding up from behind were unable to do so. Others ran in only to

be cut down as soon as they appeared; a sound of fierce shouting and angry

struggle came through the opening. When no more showed themselves, Wulf

called for torches, and a dozen were soon at hand. Seizing one he passed

through the narrow opening. A winding staircase met his view. With Beorn

and some Saxons following close behind him, he descended for a considerable

distance, then he found himself in a low and narrow passage, and following

this for twenty yards stepped out into the open air.

"We need do no more to-night, Beorn," he said. "We will see where this

comes out and block it up in the morning, though they are not likely to try

again. We can sleep now without fear of interruption."

His first step was to examine the bodies of the fallen Welshmen. He had

recognized in the tall man with whom he had crossed swords Llewellyn ap

Rhys, and found him lying beneath four of his followers, who had stood over

him and defended him to the last. He was glad to find that the Welsh prince

still lived, and directed that he should be at once carried to a room and

that every attention should be shown him. None of the other fourteen

Welshmen who had fallen showed any signs of life.