orethought to bring in his
wallet.

He heard her tale as she sobbed in his arms. They had come here after
the eagle's nest. Llewelyn and Howel had been so kind! They had not
minded her being so slow, but had brought her all the way; and when she
wanted to follow them along the ledge to get a better view of the nest,
they had blindfolded her that she might not get giddy, and had put a
rope round her and brought her safely along the narrow ledge till she
had got to this place. But the nest could not be seen even from there,
and they had left her to see where it really was. They said they would
soon be back, but they had not come, and she had got first anxious and
then terrified about them, and then fearful for her own safety. At last
when faintness and giddiness had come upon her, and she could get no
answer to her repeated shouts, her spirit had altogether given way; and
unless Wendot had really come to her rescue, she was certain she should
have fallen down the precipice. She did not know now how she should ever
get back along the narrow ridge, she was so frightened and giddy. But if
Llewelyn and Howel would come, perhaps she might.

Did Wendot know where they were? Would he take care of her now, and
bring her safe home?

"I will if I can," answered the boy, with a strange light in his blue
eyes. "Griffeth is on his way with plenty of help. He will be here soon.
Do you think you could walk along the ridge now, if I were to hold you
up and help you? We should get home sooner if you could."

But the child shrank back and put her hand before her eyes.

"Oh, let us wait till Griffeth comes. I am so giddy still, and I am so
afraid I should fall. Hark! I'm sure I hear voices. They are coming
already. Oh, I am so glad! I do want to get home. Wendot, why do you
look like that? Why do you get out that thing? You are not going to fight?"

"Lady Gertrude," said Wendot, speaking in a grave, manly way that at
once riveted the child's attention, "I am afraid that those voices do
not belong to our friends, but to a band of men who are coming to try
and take you prisoner to a castle up the valley there. No: do not be
frightened; I will save you from them if I can. There is help coming for
us, and I think I can hold this path against them for some time to come.
You must try and keep up heart and not be frightened. You may see some
hard blows struck, but you can shut your eyes and not think about it. If
they do kill me and carry yo