The Lord of Dynevor: A Tale of the Times of Edward the First

hoo! la

of the still place, and a hundred voices seemed to take up the cry, and pass it on as from mouth to mouth. But the boy's quick ears were no

ha-h

glet, fixed upon a craggy ridge on the opposite side of the gorge, whilst his left hand was placed upon the collar of a huge wolfhound who stood beside

might have been the badge of his house. His active limbs were encased in the same strong, yielding material, and the only thing

as he stood bare-headed in the sunlight amidst the everlasting hills of his well-loved home, too young to see the clouds which were settling so darkly and so surely upo

nst the detaining clasp upon his

they come. Let me but hear their hail, and thou and I will be off to meet them. I would they heard the news first from my lips. My mother b

from human lips. Releasing Gelert, who dashed forward with a bay of delight, the lad commenced springing from rock to rock up the narrowing gorge, until he reached a spot where the dwindl

at his side; and before either had traversed the path far, voices ahead of them became distin

for a moment doubted. As a matter of fact the four were brothers; but they followed two distinct types -- Wendot and Griffeth being fair and bright haired, whilst Llewe

fifteen, who was walking slightly in advance of his br

home. Thou must see the noble stag that my bolt brought down. We will have his head to adorn the hall -- his antlers are w

ell you come home laden with meat, for we shall need to make merry tonight. There are guests come to the castle today. Wenwynwyn was stringing his harp

noble Prince Llewelyn, who is standing out so boldly for the rights of our nation. Say they not that the English tyrant is on our borders now, summoning him to pay the homage he repudiates with scorn? Oh, I would t

air life that all these lads had lived, and the training they had received in all martial and hardy exercises, had given them strength and height beyond their years. It was no idle boast on the part of Llewelyn to speak of his readiness t

ce of the authority, real or assumed, of the Lords of the Marches. But petty forays and private feuds with hostile kinsmen was not the kind of fighting these brothers longed to see and share

owncast. He gave a quick glance into the fierce, glowin

id slowly. "The guests who have com

smothered word which sounded like an imprecation upon all the

d? Why did not our good fellows fall upon them with the sword or

thority? And when did ever bold Welshmen fall upon unarmed strangers to smite with the sword? Do we make war upon harmles

but sympathy and mute approbation in Llewelyn's sullen face and gloomy eyes. He dropped

hy have they thus presented themselves unarmed at Dynevor? Is it

nce on Dynevor. Methinks they are on a visit to the Abbey of Strata Florida; but at least they come as simple, unarmed strangers, and it is the boast of Wales that even unarmed foes may travel through the breadth an

eve it not. But when we see how this fair land has been torn and rent by the struggles after land and power, and how our own kinsman, Meredith ap Res, is toying with Edward, and striving to take from us the lands we hold yet -- so greatly diminished from the old portio

e elder brother was but two years and a half his senior. But Wendot had always been grave and thoughtful beyond his years, and had been taken much into the

. "I knew not thou hadst the gift of such eloquent speech. Methought it

ink of things thus. And yet there are moments when it seems the lesser ill to yield such homage to one whom the world praises as statesman and soldier, than to see our land torn and distracted by petty feuds, and split u

her of the maiden is an English earl, Lord Montacute they call him. He is tall and soldier-like, with an air of command like unto our father's. The damsel is a fair-faced maiden, who scarce ope

dot, with a smile; "methinks th

th eagerly. "Let us hasten d

ame streaming up the valley in level rays of shimmering gold, bathing the loftier crags in lambent fire, and filling the lower lands with layers of soft shadow flecked here and there with gold. A sudden turn in the narrow gorge, thro

went in those days -- it had long been a favourite residence with the princes of South Wales; and in a recent readjustment of disputed lands, consequent upon the perpetual petty

fficult such a place would be to capture. On two sides the rock fell away almost sheer from the castle walls, whilst on the other two a deep moat had been dug, which was fed by small mo

were the manners and customs of the period, and partially uncivilized as the country was in those far-off days, there was a strong vein of poetry lying latent in its sons and d

ding the whole country with regard to foreign aggression and the ever-increasing claims upon Welsh lands by the English invaders. A sense as of coming doom hung o

d. "What is the matter, Wendot? Met

dashed his hand across his eyes. "It is for us men to fight for our rightful

mysterious woods in front, the clear, vivid sunlight on the mountain tops, and the serried battlements of the castle, now rising into larger proportions as the

g tears to the eyes of men -- tears of which they need feel no shame. Fear not to s

s to give utterance to the thoughts which come crowding into my brain. But see, we have n

ght admission by the postern door. But Wendot and Griffeth had no fears, and quickly scaled the steps and reached the entrance, passing through which they found themselves in a narrow vaulted passa

was opened the sound of a harp became audible, and the brothers paused in the d

something baronial to the air of the place. The walls were adorned with trophies of all sorts, some composed of arms, others of the spoil of fell and forest. The skins of many savage beasts lay upon the cold stone flooring of the place, imparting warmth and harmony by the rich tints of the furs. Light was admitted through a row of narrow windows both above and below; but the vast place would have been dim and dark at this hour had it not

nor even upon the soldier-like figure of their stalwart father leaning against the wall with folded arms, and eyes shining with the patriotic fervour of his race. The attention of the lads was enchained by another and more sumptu

nic was also richly embroidered; and the heavy mantle clasped upon the shoulder with a rare jewel was of some rich texture almost unknown to the boys. The make and set of his garments, and the jewelled and plumed cap which he held upon his knee, al

and," he whispered to Griffeth.

suddenly caught sight of another figure, another fac

r the lads or their parents. And now when Wendot's glance fell for the first time upon this little fairy-like creature, this lovely little golde

looking straight at him. As he gazed the child suddenly rose,

he merriest and silveriest of laughs. "Oh, I am so glad! I do like boys so much, and I never have any to play with at home. I am so tired of this old man and his harp. Please let

e. Res Vychan, the present Lord of Dynevor, foresaw, and had foreseen many years, the gradual usurpation of the English, and had considered that a knowledge of that tongue would in all probability be an advantage to those who were likely to be involved in the coming struggle. The boy

right little upturned face, he was

, little lady, and what wou

l, with a wave of her hand towards the front door. "I

r brother had been preferred before himself by the little maiden, yet half fascinated by her nameless charm. Wendot lifted her up in his strong arms to see over the wide stone balustrade

ive here sometimes, if it was always summer. Tell me your name, big boy. I

rally Wendot at home here. This is Griffeth, my yo

And how old a

fift

thought you must be much older than that. I am twelve, and you can lift

bout with your fa

hall have to put me in a nunnery, because he has nobody to take care of me when he

sconcerted. She was remarkably self possessed for her years,

and the little maid answered, wit

me Gertrude if you like, because you are kind and I lik

y two br

! and what are

yn and

at the king is going to fight against and conquer. Do you think

angle of the wall, and a heavy grip was laid upon the shoulder of the child. A wild face and a pair of flashi