The Hot Swamp
Page 19
no notice. After a moment or two it soundedagain, somewhat louder.
Still no answer.
Then Beniah shouted, with just a shade of anxiety, "Branwen!"
Receiving no reply, he ran in much alarm for one of his spare planks;thrust it over the chasm; crossed, and next moment stood in the innercave the very embodiment of astonished consternation, for Branwen wasgone, and in her place stood a little old woman, with a bowed form, anda puckered-up mouth, gazing at him with half-closed but piercingly darkeyes!
The Hebrew was almost destitute of superstition, and a man of greatcourage, but this proved too much for him. His eyes opened withamazement; so did his mouth, and he grew visibly pale.
The tables were turned at this point. The man's appearance proved toomuch for the girl. Her eyes opened wide, her brilliant teeth appeared,and, standing erect, she burst into a fit of merry laughter.
"Child!" exclaimed Beniah, his usually grave mouth relaxing into a broadsmile, which proved that his teeth were not less sound than hisconstitution, "you have shown to me that fear, or something marvellouslylike it, is capable of lurking within my old heart. What mean you bythis?"
"I mean that there is an idea come into my head which I shall carryout--if you will allow me. I had thought at first of staying with youas your grand-daughter or your niece, but then it came into my head thatI could not live long here in such a character without some one who knewme seeing me and finding me out--though, let me tell you, it would notbe easy to find me out, for I can change my look and voice so that nonebut those who know me well could discover me. Then the idea of being anold woman came into my head, and--you can speak to my success. There isnothing more natural than that you should have an old woman to take careof your house while you go on your travels; so I can stay till you goand see my father and tell him to send for me."
"Your father lives very far from here," returned the Hebrew, with thelines of perplexity still resting on his brow.
"That is true; but Beniah's legs are long and his body is strong. Hecan soon let my father know of his daughter's misfortune. You know thatmy father is a powerful chief, though his tribe is not so strong innumbers as the tribe of King Hudibras, or that--that fiend Gunrig. Buthis young men and my brothers are very brave."
"Well, let it be as you say, for the present, my child, and you mayconsider this cave your private chamber while you remain in my house.But let me advise you to keep close when I am absent, and do not betempted to prove the strength of your disguise. It may not be asperfect as you think, and your voice may betray you."
Having agreed upon this temporary plan, the Hebrew departed to makepreparations for a long journey, while Branwen busied herself inarranging the apartment in which, for some time at least, she hoped toremain in hiding.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN.
MOTHER AND SON.
We need scarcely say that the search for Branwen proved fruitless.Gunrig and the hunters returned to town crestfallen at being unable todiscover the trail of a girl, and the chief went off in undiminishedwrath to his own home--which was distant about a day's journey on footfrom the capital of King Hudibras.
Even in those savage times warriors were not above taking counsel,occasionally, with women. The king went to consult on the situationwith the queen, the princess, and Bladud; while Gunrig sought advice andconsolation from his mother. Of course neither of these men would for amoment have admitted that he needed advice. They only condescended tolet their women-folk know what had occurred, and hear what they had tosay!
"Why, do you think, has the ungrateful child fled?" asked the king insome indignation.
"I cannot imagine," answered the queen. "We have all been so kind toher, and she was so fond of us and we of her. Besides, her visit wasnot half over, and her father would not be pleased if she were to returnhome so soon and so unexpectedly."
Of course Hafrydda knew the cause, but she maintained a discreetsilence.
"Return home!" echoed the king in contempt, "how can a little delicatething like her return home through miles and miles of forest swarmingwith wild beasts and not a few wilder men? Impossible! My hunters mustgo out again, every day, till she is found. I will lead them myselfsince they seem to have lost the power of their craft."
"Is this `little delicate thing' as beautiful as my sister describes herto be?" asked Bladud, somewhat amused by his father's tone and manner.
"Ay, that she is," answered the king. "Beautiful enough to set not afew of my young men by the ears. Did you not see her on the platform atthe games--or were you too much taken up with the scowling looks ofGunrig?"
"I saw the figure of a young woman," answered the prince, "but she kepta shawl so close round her head that I failed to see her face. As toGunrig, I did not think it worth my while to mind him at all, so I sawnot whether his looks were scowling or pleased."
"Ha! boy--he gave you some trouble, notwithstanding."
"He has gone away in anger at present, however, so we will let him betill he returns for another fight."
Gunrig, meanwhile, having reached his town or village, went straight tothe hut in which his mother dwelt and laid his troubles before her. Shewas a calm, thoughtful woman, very unlike her passionate son.
"It is a bad business," she remarked, after the chief had described thesituation to her, and was striding up and down the little room with hishands behind his back, "and will require much care in management, forKing Hudibras, as you know, is very fierce when roused, and although heis somewhat afraid of you, he is like to be roused to anger when hecomes to understand that you have jilted his daughter."
"But I have not jilted her," said Gunrig, stopping abruptly in his walk,and looking down upon his parent. "That ass Bladud won her, andalthough he does turn out to be her brother, that does not interferewith his right to break off the engagement if so disposed. Besides, Ido not want to wed the princess now. I have quite changed my mind."
"Why have you changed your mind, my son?"
"Because I never cared for her much; and since I went to visit herfather I have seen another girl who is far more beautiful; far moreclever; more winning, in every way."
The woman looked sharply at the flushed countenance of her son.
"You love her?" she asked.
"Ay, that do I, as I never loved woman before, and, truly, as I think Inever shall love again."
"Then you must get her to wife, my son, for there is no cure for love."
"Oh, yes, there is, mother," was the light reply of the chief, as herecommenced to pace the floor. "Death is a pretty sure and sharp curefor love."
"Surely you would not kill yourself because of a girl?"
Gunrig burst into a loud laugh, and said, "Nay, truly, but death maytake the girl, or death may take me--for, as you know, there is plentyof fighting among the tribes, and my day will surely come, sooner orlater. In either case love will be cured."
"Can you guess why this girl has fled?" asked the woman.
Gunrig's brows contracted, and a grim smile played on his lips as hereplied, after a brief pause--
"Well, I am not quite sure, mother. It may be that she is not too fondof me--which only shows her want of taste. But that can be cured whenshe finds out what a fine man I am! Anyhow, I will have her, if Ishould have to hunt the forest for a hundred moons, and fight all thetribes put together."
"And how do you propose to go about it, my son?"
"That is the very thing I want you to tell me. If it were fighting thathad to be done I would not trouble you--but this is a matter that goesbeyond the wisdom of a plain warrior."
"Then, if you would gain your end, my son, I should advise you to send amessage to King Hudibras by one of your most trusty men; and let themessage be that you are deeply grieved at the loss of his daughter'shand; that--"
"But I'm nothing of the kind, mother, so that would not be true."
"What does it matter whether true or not, if the king only believes itto be true?"
"I don't quite a
gree, mother, with your notions about truth. To my minda warrior should always be straightforward and say what he means."
"Then go, my son, and tell the king what you have just told me, and hewill cut your head off," replied the dame in a tone of sarcasm.
"If I act on that advice, I will take my warriors with me and carry mysword in my hand, so that his head would stand as good a chance offalling as mine," returned Gunrig with a laugh. "But go on with youradvice, mother."
"Well, say that you feel in honour bound to give up all claim to hisdaughter's hand, but that, as you want a wife very much to keep yourhouse as your mother is getting too old, you will be content to take hisvisitor, Branwen, and will be glad to help in the