heir town is a long way off. But,
child, you do not seem to reflect that you have betrayed me."

"How?" asked Branwen, wonderingly.

"Did you not thrust out the plank and cross over before the very eyes of
Bladud?"

Branwen pursed her lips into the form of an O and opened her eyes wide.

"I never thought of that!" she said. "But after all it does not matter,
for the prince took no notice of the plank, and _he_ is not the man to
go and betray secrets!"

The Hebrew laughed, patted the girl on the head and sent her off to
rest. Then he busied himself in making preparation for his too
long-delayed journey.

Next morning, before daybreak, he set off, leaving Branwen in charge of
the hut, with strict orders to keep well out of sight. If any one
should come to it she was to retreat to the inner cavern and withdraw
the bridge.

"They may do as seemeth to them good in the outer hut. There is nothing
there worth stealing, and they are welcome to make themselves at home."

The Hebrew went on his mission; arrived in due time at his journey's
end; reported Branwen's dilemma; guided a party of stout warriors under
her father Gadarn, and led them to his hut in the dell in the dead of a
dark night, for it was no part of the programme to abduct the girl by
main force, unless peaceful or stealthy measures should prove
unsuccessful. When, however, he reached the dell and entered his
dwelling, he found that the bird had flown! Every nook and cranny of
the place was carefully searched; but, to the consternation of the
Hebrew, and the wrath of Gadarn and his men, not a vestige of Branwen
was to be found.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

ADVENTURES IN THE FORESTS.

Poor Branwen! it was an unfortunate day for her when, in her youthful
ignorance and recklessness, she took to the wild woods, resolved to
follow Bladud to his destination and secretly wait there and watch over
him like a guardian angel, as it were, until the terrible disease should
lay him on his deathbed, when she would reveal herself and nurse him to
the end!

Let not the reader suppose there was any lack of maiden modesty in this
resolve. It must be borne in mind that Branwen was little more than a
child in experience; that she was of an age at which the world, with all
its affairs, is enveloped in a halo of romance; that her soul had been
deeply stirred by the story of the rescue of the leprous old woman, and
her pity powerfully aroused by the calm, though hopeless, t