d failed to recognise her in the lad
Cormac, for of course he knew nothing of the promise that held the
Hebrew's lips tied; his daughter--who was as fond of a joke as himself--
having taken care not to reveal _all_ the complications that had arisen
in regard to herself.

The sudden appearance, therefore, of foes with whom he could fight
proved to be a sort of fortunate safety-valve, and, besides, he had the
comfort of thinking that he would fight in a good cause, for the region
of the Hot Swamp belonged to his friend Hudibras, and this robber
Addedomar was a notorious rascal who required extirpating, while the
chiefs who had joined him were little better.

The council of war that was hastily called included Bladud, who was sent
for, being asleep in his own booth when the party arrived. The council
chamber was under an old oak tree.

When Bladud came forward he was suddenly struck motionless and glared as
if he had seen a ghost. For the first time in his life he felt an
emotion of supernatural fear--for there, in the flesh apparently, stood
his friend Dromas.

A smile from the latter reassured him. Leaping forward he seized his
friend's hand, but the impulsive Greek was not to be put off thus. He
threw an arm round the prince's neck and kissed his cheek.

"Dromas!" cried Bladud, "can it be? Am I dreaming?"

"This is all very well," interrupted the impatient Gadarn, "and I have
no doubt you are excellent friends though somewhat demonstrative, but we
are holding a council of war--not of affection--and as the enemy may be
close at hand it behoves us to be smart. Shake hands, Gunrig; you and I
must be friends when we fight on the same side. Now, let us to work.
Who is to have the chief command?"

By universal desire the council appointed Gadarn.

"Well, then," said the commander-in-chief, "this is my view: Addedomar
will come expecting to find us all asleep. He will find us all very
wide awake. There is a slope in front of this camp leading down to the
Swamp. At the bottom is a nice level piece of flat land, bordering on
the Swamp, that seems just made for a battlefield. We will drive him
and his men down the slope on to that flat, from which, after giving
them the toothache, we will drive them into the Swamp, and as close up
to the spring-head as we can, so that they may be half boiled alive, if
possible. Those who escape the Swamp will find men ambushed on the
other side who will drive them into the ri