ith a large jug of water, of which Roger took a deep draught;
and Oswald then finished the contents, for he, too, was parched with
thirst.

Half an hour later a tall man, in full armour, followed by a number of
Welsh chiefs, issued from the forest. He was some five-and-forty years
old, and of noble presence. The leader of the party who had brought
Oswald up advanced to meet him; and, saluting him most respectfully,
spoke to him for a moment, and then produced the chain. Glendower--for
it was the prince--examined it, and then at once walked up to Oswald,
who had risen to his feet.

"How became you possessed of this, Sir Knight?"

"It was given me by one of your daughters, sir. I and my squire, here,
were on guard round your house, on the night after the Earl of Talbot
took it. We were at some distance from the other guards, when two
figures rose from the bushes near us. We pursued them and, coming up to
them, found they were two ladies; and they at once avowed that they
were your daughters. My instructions were to watch and see that no
Welshmen approached the house; and nought had been said to me of
arresting any leaving it, seeing that it was not supposed that any were
there.

"I war not with women. Being myself from Northumbria, I have no enmity
with your people. Therefore I let them proceed on their way--a breach
of duty for which, doubtless, I should have suffered, had it been
known. Happily, none but my follower here, who was then but a
man-at-arms, and I a squire, knew of it; and to this moment I have
spoken of it to no one. As they left us, one of the ladies gave me this
chain, saying that some day it might be of use to me, should I ever
fall into the hands of their people. I have carried it on my wrist,
ever since; and when your follower came up, and I saw the necessity had
arisen, I showed it to him."

"I have heard the story from my daughters," Glendower said warmly,
holding out his hand. "They told me how courteously you had treated
them, and that you had refused to accept the jewels they offered you.
They said that you had also declined to tell them your name, as it
might do you injury, should it become known; and I have often regretted
that I did not know the name of the gentleman who had behaved so nobly
to them, and had saved them from an English prison. Had they been
captured, it would have been a sore blow to me, not only in my
affections but to my cause; for, had he held them in his power, Henry