The Hot Swamp Part 37

"Now--go!" said the princess, pointing to the door.

The servitor went with an air of profound abas.e.m.e.nt, which changed into a look of complicated amus.e.m.e.nt when he got out of sight.

"He is quite safe," said the princess, "not that I count much on his fear, for he is as brave as a she-wolf with whelps, and fears nothing, but I know he likes me."

"I think he likes me too," said Branwen, thoughtfully. "Besides, I feel sure that the Boong-jee-gop has some influence over him. Yes, I think we are safe."

"Well, now," she continued, resuming the interrupted conversation, "it seems to me that the only course open to me is to appear to Bladud as a girl some day, and see if he recognises me. Yet I don't quite like it, for, now that it is all past and he is well again, I feel half ashamed of the part I have played--yet how could I help it when I saw the poor fellow going away to die--alone!"

"You could not help it, dear, and you should not wish it were otherwise.

Now, never mind what you feel about it, but let us lay our heads together and consider what is to be done. You think, I suppose, that Bladud may go on for a long time searching for this youth Cormac?"

"Yes, for a very long time, and he'll _never_ find him," replied Branwen with a merry laugh.

"Well, then, we must find some means of getting him home without letting him know why we want him," continued the princess.

"Just so, but that won't be easy," returned the other with a significant look, "for he is _very_ fond of Cormac, and won't easily be made to give up looking for him."

"You conceited creature, you are too sure of him."

"Not at all. Only as Cormac. I wish I were sure of him as Branwen!"

"Perchance he might like you best as the little old woman in grey."

"It may be so. I think he liked me even as a witch, for he patted my shoulder once so kindly."

"I'll tell you what--I'll go and consult father," said the princess.

"No, you shan't, my dear, for he is not to know anything about it just yet. But I will go and consult _my_ father. He will give me good advice, I know."

The result of Branwen's consultation with her father was that the Hebrew was summoned to his presence. An explanation took place, during which Gadarn attempted to look grave, and dignified, as became a noted northern chief, but frequently turned very red in the face and vented certain nasal sounds, which betrayed internal commotion.

"You will therefore start for the Hot Swamp to-morrow, Beniah," he finally remarked, "and let Bladud know that the king desires his return to court immediately. I have been told by the king to send him this message. But keep your own counsel, Hebrew, and be careful not to let the prince know what _you_ know, else it will go ill with you! Tell him, from myself, that I have at last fallen on the tracks of the lad Cormac, and that we are almost sure to find him in this neighbourhood.

Away, and let not thy feet take root on the road."

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO.

BRANWEN VISITS GUNRIG.

Before going off on his mission the Hebrew paid a visit to his own residence, where he found Branwen busy with culinary operations.

Sitting down on a stool, he looked at her with an expression of mingled amus.e.m.e.nt and perplexity.

"Come hither, my girl," he said, "and sit beside me while I reveal the straits to which you have brought me. Verily, a short time ago I had deemed it impossible for any one to thrust me so near to the verge of falsehood as you have done!"

"I, Beniah?" exclaimed the maiden, with a look of surprise on her pretty face so ineffably innocent that it was obviously hypocritical--insomuch that Beniah laughed, and Branwen was constrained to join him.

"Yes--you and your father together, for the puzzling man has commissioned me to set out for the Hot Swamp, to tell Bladud that he is urgently wanted at home. And he would not even allow me to open my lips, when I was about to broach the subject of your disguises, although he almost certainly knows all about them--"

"What! my father knows?" interrupted Branwen, with raised eyebrows.

"Yes, and you know that he knows, and he knows that I know, and we all know that each other knows, and why there should be any objection that every one should know is more than I can--"

"Never mind, Beniah," interrupted the girl, with the slightest possible smile. "You are a dear, good old creature, and I know you won't betray me. Remember your solemn promise."

"Truly I shall not forget it soon," replied the Hebrew, "for the trouble it has cost me already to compose answers that should not be lies is beyond your light-hearted nature to understand."

"Ah! yes, indeed," rejoined Branwen, with a sigh of mock humility, "I was always very lighthearted by nature. The queen used frequently to tell me so--though she never said it was by `nature,' and the king agreed with her--though by the way he used to laugh, I don't think he thought light-heartedness to be _very_ naughty. But come, Beniah, I am longing to hear what my father commissioned you to say or do."

"Well, he was very particular in cautioning me _not_ to tell what I know--"

"Ah! that knowledge, what a dreadful thing it is to have too much of it!

Well, what more?"

"He told me what I have already told you, and bid me add from himself that he has fallen on the tracks of the lad Cormac, and that he is sure to be found in this neighbourhood."

"That, at least, will be no lie," suggested the maid.

"I'm not so sure of that, for the lad Cormac will never be found here or anywhere else, having no existence at all."

Branwen laughed at this and expressed surprise. "It seems to me," she said, "that age or recent worries must have touched your brain, Beniah, for if the lad Cormac has no existence at all, how is it possible that you could meet with him at the Hot Swamp, and even make a solemn promise to him."

Beniah did not reply to this question, but rose to make preparation for his journey. Then, as if suddenly recollecting something that had escaped him, he returned to his seat.

"My child," he said, "I have that to tell you which will make you sad-- unless I greatly misunderstand your nature. Gunrig, your enemy, is dying."

That the Hebrew had not misunderstood Branwen's nature was evident, from the genuine look of sorrow and sympathy which instantly overspread her countenance.

"Call him not my enemy!" she exclaimed. "An enemy cannot love! But, tell me about him. I had heard the report that he was recovering."

"It was the report of a sanguine mother who will not believe that his end is so near; but she is mistaken. I saw him two days ago. The arrow-head is still rankling in his chest, and he knows himself to be dying."

"Is he much changed in appearance?" asked Branwen.

"Indeed he is. His great strength is gone, and he submits to be treated as a child--yet he is by no means childish. The manliness of his strong nature is left, but the boastfulness has departed, and he looks death in the face like a true warrior; though I cannot help thinking that if choice had been given him he would have preferred to fall by the sword of Bladud, or some doughty foe who could have given him a more summary dismissal from this earthly scene."

"Beniah, I will visit him," said Branwen, suddenly brus.h.i.+ng back her hair with both hands, and looking earnestly into the Hebrew's face.

"That will be hard for you to do and still keep yourself concealed."

"Nothing will be easier," replied the girl, with some impatience; "you forget the old woman's dress. I will accompany you as far as his dwelling. It is only an easy day's journey on foot from here."

"But, my child, I go on horseback; and I am to be supplied with only one horse."

"Well, my father, that is no difficulty; for I will ride and you shall walk. You will bring the horse here instead of starting straight from the palace. Then we will set off together, and I will gallop on in advance. When you reach Gunrig's house in the evening, you will find the horse fed and rested, and ready for you to go on."

"But how will you return, child?"

"By using my legs, man! As an old witch I can travel anywhere at night in perfect safety."