ched the neighbourhood of Gadarn's camp. Hesitation in the
circumstances he knew would be ruinous; he therefore neglected the
precaution of feeling his way by sending scouts in advance, and made
straight for the enemy's camp. Scouts previously sent out had
ascertained its exact position, so that he had no doubt of effecting a
complete surprise.

Many noted battles have been fought and described in this world, but
few, if any, we should think, will compare with the famous battle of the
Springs in the completeness of the victory.

Coming out upon the flat which Gadarn had determined should be the
battle-field, and to the left of which the hot springs that caused the
swamp were flowing, Addedomar marshalled his men for the final assault.
Before reaching the flat they had passed almost within bow-shot of the
spot where Gunrig and his men lay in ambush, and that chief might easily
have fallen upon and killed many of them, had he not been restrained by
the strict orders of Gadarn to let them pass on to the camp unmolested.
It is true Gunrig found it very hard to hold his hand, but as Gadarn had
been constituted commander-in-chief without a dissentient voice, in
virtue of his superior intelligence and indomitable resolution, he felt
bound to obey.

Bladud and his friend Dromas, with their contingent, being at the lower
end of the flat and far out of bow-shot, were not thus tempted to
disobey orders. The ambuscade on the other side of the Swamp had been
put under the command of Captain Arkal, with Maikar for his lieutenant.
Being entirely ignorant of what was going on, the men of this contingent
lay close, abiding their time.

Inaction, during the development of some critical manoeuvre, while
awaiting the signal to be up and doing, is hard to bear. Arkal and his
men whiled away the time in whispered conversations, which related more
or less to the part they were expected to play.

"If any of the robbers reach this side of the swamp alive," remarked
Arkal, "there will be no need to kill them."

"What then? would you let them escape?" asked Maikar in surprise.

"Not on this side of the river," returned the captain. "But we might
drive them into it, and as it is in roaring flood just now, most of them
will probably be drowned. The few who escape will do us service by
telling the tale of their defeat to their friends."

He ceased to whisper, for just then the dawning light showed them the
dusky forms of the enemy ste