ysterious flames seemed to be bursting forth, wavering
and flickering in the dark recesses of the forest, while amid the boughs
flew birds of evil omen, night-owls, and ravens, and bats, and other
winged things of hideous form, with harsh and croaking voices. Within
this forest, so Saint David had learned, stood the castle of the
Magician Ormandine.

"My faithful Owen," he exclaimed, "by my honour and my oath of
knighthood, I am bound to enter and to traverse this strange and woeful
wood; but do you wait my return without, and if I never do return, go to
my kinsmen, in our native land, and tell them all about my sad and
melancholy end."

The faithful Owen, on hearing these words, burst into tears, and
replied: "My long-loved honoured Master, if there were ten thousand
forests, and if in each thrice ten thousand ill-doing necromancers
lived, and if through each you had to fight your way, I would remain
steadfast by your side, and fight as long as arm, and hand, and sword
could do their work."

"Then onward into this dreadful forest, my faithful Owen, let us go!"
exclaimed Saint David, drawing his sword, and beginning to hew away at
the creepers and briars which impeded their progress. In this labour he
was ably seconded by the faithful Owen; and thus, by slow degrees, they
worked their onward way. As they proceeded, the shouts and shrieks
increased, the sky overhead was filled with lurid meteors, and hideous
and ill-omened birds flew thickly around their heads, screeching their
terrific notes into the ears of the adventurous strangers.

"Few things worth having can be obtained without difficulty and
perseverance," exclaimed Saint David, as he went on cutting and cutting
away at the creepers. "As to all the hooting, and the screeching, and
crying which assail our ears, it cannot hurt us if we take no heed to
it. Few noble enterprises have ever been undertaken without numbers of
people, like those hideous night-owls, endeavouring to hoot them down."

Thus manfully cutting and hewing away, they at length came in sight of
the dark and frowning, damp, and moss-overgrown walls of an ancient
castle. Near it was a huge rock, still more damp and moss-covered than
the castle-walls. In this rock, by magic art, was enclosed a sword, the
hilt being the only part which could be seen. It was of steel work,
engraven curiously, and set with jaspers, sapphires, and other precious
gems. Around the pommel was engraven, in gold