y father," I said. "Jago must tell what we have
to hear."

Then he told us, speaking in his own tongue, so that I had to
translate for the king now and then, and it was a heavy tale he
brought.

Owen had gone to some house that belonged to Tregoz, in the wild
edge of Dartmoor north of Exeter, and there men unknown had set on
the house and burnt it over him, slaying his men and sorely
wounding himself. Only one man had escaped to tell the tale, and he
was wounded and could tell little. And the deed was wrought in the
night, and into the night he had seen the men depart, bearing the
prince with them. But who and whence they were he could neither
tell nor guess.

Then Gerent had ridden in all haste to the house, and found even as
the wounded man had told, for all was still as the burners left it.
But no man of all the village, nor the shepherds on the hills,
could tell more. Owen was lost without trace left.

Then said Ina: "What more could be done by Oswald?--Will men help a
Saxon?"

"This must be between ourselves, King Ina," Jago said plainly. "It
is in my mind that if Oswald and I or some known lord of the
British will go to that place and sit there quietly with rewards in
our hands, we may learn much; for men fear Gerent the king in his
wrath, and they fled from his coming."

"So be it," said Ina. "Oswald shall go, and it seems to me that
every day is precious, so that he shall go at once. Is there
thought that Owen may be taken out of the country, as Oswald was
taken?"

"Every port and every fisher is watched, and has been so. For that
was the first thing we feared. And word has gone to Howel of Dyfed
and Mordred of Morganwg, farther up the channel, that they should
watch their shores also. Nought has been left undone that may be
done."

So it came to pass that on the next morning Jago and I rode away
together along the great road that leads westward to Exeter and
beyond, asking each train of chapmen whom we met if there was yet
news, and hearing nought but sorrow for the loss of the prince they
had hailed with such joy again. Nor did we draw rein, save to
change horses, till we clattered up the ancient paved street of the
city on its hill, and dismounted at the gates of the white palace
where Gerent waited me.

There the first man who came out to greet me was one whom I was
altogether glad to see, though his presence astonished me for a
moment. Howel of Dyfed passed from the great door and bade me
we