CHAPTER VI. WELSH WOLVES.
The Princess Joanna was accustomed to a great deal of her own way. Shehad been born at Acre, whilst her parents had been absent upon Edward'sCrusade, and for many years she had remained in Castile with hergrandmother-godmother, who had treated her with unwise distinction, andhad taught her to regard herself almost as a little queen. Thehigh-spirited and self-willed girl had thus acquired habits ofindependence and commanding ways which were perhaps hardly suited to hertender years; but nevertheless there was something in her brightvivacity and generous impetuosity which always won the hearts of thoseabout her, and there were few who willingly thwarted her when her heartwas set upon any particular thing.
There were in attendance upon the king and his children a number ofgallant youths, sons of his nobles, who were admitted to pleasant andeasy intercourse with the royal family; so that when Joanna and Alphonsoset their hearts upon a private escapade of their own, in the shape of awolf hunt, it was not difficult to enlist many brave champions in thecause quite as eager for the danger and the sport as the royal childrenthemselves. Joanna was admitted to be a privileged person, and Alphonso,as the only son of the king, had a certain authority of his own.
The graver and more responsible guardians of the young prince andprincesses might have hesitated before letting them have their way inthis matter; but Joanna took counsel of the younger and more ardentspirits by whom she was surrounded, and a secret expedition to aneighbouring rocky fastness was soon planned, which expedition, by alittle diplomacy and management, could be carried out without excitingmuch remark.
The king and queen encouraged their family in hardy exercises and earlyhours. If the royal children planned an early ride through the freshmorning air, none would hinder their departure, and they could easilyshake off their slower attendants when the time came, and join thebolder comrades who would be waiting for them with all the needfulaccoutrements for the hunt on which their minds were bent.
One or two of the more youthful and adventurous attendants might comewith them, but the soberer custodians might either be dismissed oroutridden. They were accustomed to the vagaries of the Lady Joanna, andwould not be greatly astonished at any freak on her part.
And thus it came about that one clear, cold, exhilarating morning inMay, when the world was just waking from its dewy sleep of night, thatJoanna and Alphonso, together with Gertrude and Arthyn, and young SirGodfrey and another gentleman in attendance, drew rein laughingly, aftera breathless ride across a piece of wild moorland, at the appointedspot, where a small but well-equipped company was awaiting them with thespears, the dogs, and the long, murderous-looking hunting knives neededby those who follow the tracks of the wild creatures of the mountains.
This little band numbered in its ranks the four Dynevor brothers; atall, rather haughty-looking youth, by name Raoul Latimer; and one ortwo more with whose names we have no concern. Britten, who accompaniedthe royal party, sprang forward with a cry of delight at seeing themuster, and began eagerly questioning Raoul as to the capabilities ofthe dogs he had brought, and the possible dangers to be encountered inthe day's sport.
Gertrude and Joanna rode up to Wendot and greeted him warmly. They hadseen him only once since the first evening after his arrival, and bothgirls stole curious glances at the dark faces of the two brothersunknown as yet to them. They were almost surprised that the twins hadcome at all, as they were not disposed to be friendly towards theEnglish amongst whom they were now mingling; but here they were, andGertrude greeted both with her pretty grace, and they answered her wordsof welcome with more courtesy than she had expected to find in them.
Llewelyn and Howel were submitting themselves to the inevitable withwhat grace they could, but with very indignant and hostile feelingshidden deep in their hearts. Their old hatred towards the Englishremained unaltered. They would have fought the foe tooth and nail to thelast had they been able to find allies ready to stand by them. But whentheir uncle of North Wales had submitted, and all the smaller chieftainswere crowding to the court to pay homage, and when they knew thatnothing but their own nominal subjection would save them from beingdeprived of their lands, which would go to enrich the rapacious Meredithap Res, then indeed did resistance at that time seem hopeless; andsooner than see themselves thus despoiled by one who was no better thana vassal of England, they had resolved to take the hated step, and dohomage to Edward for their lands. Indeed, these brothers had to do evenmore; for, having been concerned in the late rebellion, they hadforfeited their claim upon their property, only that it was Edward'spolicy to restore all lands the owners of which submitted themselves tohis authority. The brothers felt no doubt as to the result of theirsubmission, but the humiliation involved was great, and it was hard workto keep their hatred of the English in check. Those wild spirits had notbeen used to exercising self-control, and the lesson came hard now thatthey were springing up towards man's estate, with all the untemperedrecklessness and heat of youth still in their veins.
Perhaps there was something in the expression of those two dark facesthat told its tale to one silent spectator of the meeting between theWelsh and English; for as the party united forces and pushed onwards andupwards towards the wild ravine where the haunt of the wolf lay, thetwin brothers heard themselves addressed in their own language, andthough the tones were sweet and silvery, the words had a ring ofpassionate earnestness in them which went straight to their hearts.
"Methinks I am not mistaken in you, sons of Dynevor. You have notwillingly left your mountain eyry for these halls where the proud foemanholds his court and sits in judgment upon those who by rights are freeas air. I have heard of you before, Llewelyn and Howel ap Res Vychan.You are not here, like your brethren, half won over to the cause of thefoe; you would fight with the last drop of your blood for the liberty ofour country."
Turning with a start, the brothers beheld the form of a slight andgraceful maiden, who was pushing her palfrey up beside them. Sheappeared to be about their own age, and was very beautiful to look upon,with a clear, dark skin, large, bright eyes, now glowing with theenthusiasm so soon kindled in the breast of the children of an oppressedpeople -- a people thrilling with the strange, deep poetry of theirrace, which made much amends for their lack of culture in other points.
Llewelyn and Howel, learning caution by experience, scarce knew how torespond to this appeal; but the girl met their inquiring glances by avivid smile, and said:
"Nay, fear me not. I am one of yourselves -- one of our country's ownchildren. Think not that I am here of my own free will. I deny not thatI have learned to love some amongst our conqueror's children andsubjects, but that does not make me forget who I am nor whence I havecome. Let us talk together of our country and of the slender hopes whichyet remain that she may gird herself up and make common cause againstthe foe. Oh, would that I might live to see the day, even though my lifemight pay the forfeit of my father's patriotism. Let Edward slay me --ay, and every hostage he holds in his hand -- so that our country shakesoff the foreign yoke, and unites under one head as one nation once again."
These words kindled in the breast of the twin brothers such a glow ofjoy and fervour as they had not known for many a weary day. They maderoom for Arthyn to ride between them, and eager were the confidencesexchanged between the youthful patriots as they pursued their wayupwards. Little they heeded the black looks cast upon them by RaoulLatimer, as he saw Arthyn's eager animation, and understood how closewas the bond which had thus quickly been established between them andthe proud, silent girl whose favours he had been sedulously trying towin this many a day.
Raoul Latimer was a youth with a decided eye to the main chance. He knewthat Arthyn was her father's heiress, and that she would succeed at hisdeath to some of the richest lands in Wales. Possibly her father mightbe deprived of these lands in his lifetime, as he was a turbulentchieftain, by no means submissive to Edward's rule. If that were thecase, and if his daughter had wedded a loyal Englishman ofunquestionable fidelity, there would
be an excellent chance for thathusband of succeeding to the broad lands of Einon ap Cadwalader beforemany years had passed. Therefore young Raoul paid open court to theproud Welsh maiden, and was somewhat discomfited at the small progresshe had made.
But he was a hot-headed youth, and had no intention of being thrown intothe shade by any beggarly Welshmen, be they sons of Dynevor or no, sothat when the party were forced by the character of the ground todismount from their horses and take to their own feet, he pressed up toArthyn and said banteringly:
"Sweet lady, why burden yourself with the entertainment of these wild,uncivilized loons? Surely those who can but speak the language of beastsdeserve the treatment of beasts. It is not for you to be thus --"
But the sentence was never finished. Perhaps the flash from Arthyn's eyewarned him he had gone too far in thus designating the youths, who were,after all, her countrymen; but there was a better reason still for thissudden pause, for Llewelyn's strong right hand had flown out straightfrom the shoulder, and Raoul had received on the mouth a stinging blowwhich had brought the red blood upon his lips and the crimson tide offury into his cheeks.
With an inarticulate cry of rage he drew his dagger and sprang upon theyoung Welshman. Swords were drawn in those days only too readily, and inthis case there had been provocation enough on both sides to warrantbloodshed. The youths were locked at once in fierce conflict, strikingmadly at each other with their shining blades, before those who stood bywell knew what had occurred.
It was only too common at such times that there should be collisionbetween the sons of England and Wales; and the suffering and the penaltyalmost invariably fell upon the latter. This fact was well known to thechildren of the king, and possibly prompted the young Alphonso to hisnext act.
Drawing the small sword he always carried at his side, he threw himselfbetween the combatants, and striking up their blades he cried in tonesof such authority as only those can assume who feel the right is theirs:
"Put up your weapons, gentlemen; I command you in the king's name.
"Raoul, this is your doing, I warrant. Shame on you for thus fallingupon my father's guest in his absence, and he a stranger and an alien!Shame on you, I say!"
But scarce had these words been uttered before a shrill cry broke fromseveral of the girls, who were watching the strange scene with tremulousexcitement. For young Llewelyn, maddened and blinded by the heat of hispassion, and not knowing either who Alphonso was or by what right heinterposed betwixt him and his foe, turned furiously upon him, andbefore any one could interpose, a deep red gash in the boy's wristshowed what the Welsh lad's blade had done.
Wendot, Griffeth, and Godfrey flung themselves upon the mad youth, andheld him back by main force. In Raoul's eyes there was an evil light oftriumph and exultation.
"Llewelyn, Llewelyn, art mad? It is the king's son," cried Wendot intheir native tongue; whilst Joanna sprang towards her brother andcommenced binding up the gash, the lad never for a moment losing hispresence of mind, or forgetting in the smart of the hurt the dignity ofhis position.
Llewelyn's fierce burst of passion had spent itself, and the sense ofWendot's words had come home to him. He stood shamefaced and sullen, butsecretly somewhat afraid; whilst Arthyn trembled in every limb, and iflooks would have annihilated, Raoul would not have existed as acorporate being a moment longer.
"Gentlemen," said Alphonso, turning to those about him, and holding uphis bandaged hand, "this is the result of accident -- pure accident.Remember that, if it ever comes to the ears of my father. This youthknew not what he did. The fault was mine for exposing myself thushastily. As you value the goodwill in which I hold you all, keep thismatter to yourselves. We are not prince or subject today, but comradesbent on sport together. Remember and obey my behest. It is not often Ilay my commands upon you."
These words were listened to with gratitude and relief by all the partysave one, and his brow gloomed darker than before. Arthyn saw it, andsprang towards Alphonso, who was smiling at his sister in response toher quick words of praise.
"It was his fault -- his," she cried, pointing to the scowling Raoul,who looked ill-pleased at having his lips thus sealed. "He insulted him-- he insulted me. No man worthy the name would stand still and listen.It is the way with these fine gallants of England. They are everstirring up strife, and my countrymen bear the blame, the punishment,the odium --"
But Alphonso took her hand with a gesture of boyish chivalry.
"None shall injure thee or thine whilst I am by, sweet Arthyn. Thenation is dear to me for thy sake, and thy countrymen shall be as ourhonoured guests and brothers. Have we not learned to love them for thysake and their own? Trouble not thy head more over this mischance, andlet it not cloud our day's sport.
"Raoul," he added, with some sternness, "thou art a turbulent spirit,and thou lackest the gentle courtesy of a true knight towards thosewhose position is trying and difficult. Thou wilt not win thy spurs ifthou mendest not thy ways. Give thy hand now, before my eyes, to theyouth thou didst provoke. If thou marrest the day's pleasure again, Ishall have more to say to thee yet."
It was not often that the gentle Alphonso spoke in such tones, andtherefore his words were the more heeded. Raoul, inwardly consumed withrage at being thus singled out for rebuke, dared not withstand the ordergiven him, and grudgingly held out his hand. It was not with muchgreater alacrity that Llewelyn took it, for there was much stubbornsullenness in his disposition, and his passion, though quickly aroused,did not quickly abate; but there was a compulsion in the glance of theroyal boy which enforced obedience; and harmony being thus nominallyrestored, the party once more breathed freely.
"And now upwards and onwards for the lair of the wolf," cried Alphonso;"we have lost time enough already. Who knows the way to his favouritehaunts? Methinks they cannot be very far away now."
"I should have thought we had had enough of Welsh wolves for one day,"muttered Raoul sullenly to Godfrey; but the latter gave him a warningglance, and he forbore to speak more on the subject.
Gertrude had watched the whole scene with dilated eyes, and a feeling ofsympathy and repulsion she was perfectly unable to analyze. When theparty moved on again she stole up to Wendot's side, and said as sheglanced into his troubled face:
"He did not mean it? he will not do it again?"
Wendot glanced down at her with a start, and shook his head.
"He knew not that it was the king's son -- that I verily believe; but Iknow not what Llewelyn may say or do at any time. He never speaks to meof what is in his head. Lady Gertrude, you know the king and his ways.Will he visit this rash deed upon my brother's head? Will Llewelynsuffer for what he did in an impulse of mad rage, provoked to it by yonhaughty youth, whose words and bearing are hard for any of us to brook?"
"Not if Alphonso can but get his ear; not if this thing is kept secret,as he desires, as he has commanded. But I fear what Raoul may say anddo. He is treacherous, selfish, designing. The king thinks well of him,but we love him not. I trust all will yet be well."
"But you fear it may not," added Wendot, completing the sentence as shehad not the heart to do. "I fear the same thing myself. But tell meagain, Lady Gertrude, what would be the penalty of such an act? Willthey --"
"Alphonso has great influence with his father," answered Gertrudequickly. "He will stand your brother's friend through all; perchance hemay be detained in some sort of captivity; perchance he may not have hislands restored if this thing comes to the king's ears. But his personwill be safe. Fear not for that. Methinks Alphonso would sooner lay downhis own life than that harm should befall from what chanced upon a dayof sport planned by him and Joanna."
And Gertrude, seeing that a load lay upon the heart of the young Lord ofDynevor, set herself to chase the cloud from his brow, and had so farsucceeded that he looked himself again by the time a warning shout fromthose in advance showed that some tracks of the wild creature of whomthey were in pursuit had been discovered in the path.
"Do not run into dang
er," pleaded Gertrude, laying a hand on Wendot'sarm as he moved quickly forward to the front. "You are so brave younever think of yourself; but do not let us have more bloodshed today,save the blood of the ravenous beast if it must be. I could find it inmy heart to wish that we had not come forth on this errand. Thebrightness of the day has been clouded over."
Wendot answered by a responsive glance. There was something soothing tohim in the unsolicited sympathy of Gertrude. He had thought little sincethey parted two years before of that childish pledge given and received,although he always wore her talisman about his neck, and sometimeslooked at it with a smile. He had no serious thoughts of trying to matewith an English noble's daughter. He had had no leisure to spare forthoughts of wedlock at all. But something in the trustful glance ofthose dark eyes looking confidingly up to him sent a quick thrillthrough his pulses, which was perhaps the first dawning life of the loveof a brave heart.
But there was an impatient call from the front, and Wendot sprangforward, the huntsman awakening within him at the sight of the slot ofthe quarry. He looked intently at the tracks in the soft earth, and thenpointed downwards in the direction of a deep gully or cavernous openingin the hillside, which looked very dark and gloomy to the party whostood in the sunshine of the open.
"The beast has gone that way," he said; "and by his tracks and thesebloodstains, he has prey in his mouth. Likely his mate may have her lairin yon dark spot, and they may be rearing their young in that saferetreat. See how the dogs strain and pant! They smell the prey, and areeager to be off. We must be alert and wary, for wolves with young onesto guard are fierce beyond their wont."
He looked doubtfully at the girls, whose faces were full of mingledterror and excitement. Godfrey read his meaning, and suggested that theladies should remain in this vantage ground whilst some of the rest wentforward to reconnoitre.
But Joanna, ever bold and impetuous, would have none of that.
"We will go on together," she said. "We shall be safest so. No wolf,however fierce, will attack a number like ourselves. They will fly ifthey can, and if they are brought to bay we need not go near them. Butwhy have we come so far to give up all the peril and the sport at thelast moment?"
"She speaks truth," said Wendot, to whom she seemed to look. "At thisseason of the year wolves have meat in plenty, and will not attack mansave in self defence. If we track them silently to their lair, we maysurprise and kill the brood; but we are many, and can leave force enoughto defend the ladies whilst the rest fight the battle with the creaturesat bay."
Nobody really wished to be left behind, and there was a pleasant feelingof safety in numbers. Slowly and cautiously they all followed the trackof the wolf downwards into the gloomy ravine, which seemed to shut outall light of the sun between walls of solid rock.
It was a curious freak in which nature had indulged in the formation ofthis miniature crevasse between the hillsides. At the base ran a darkturbid stream, which had hollowed out for itself a sort of cavernousopening, and the walls of rock rose almost precipitately on three sides,only leaving one track by which the ravine could be entered. The streamcame bubbling out from the rock, passing through some undergroundpassage; and within the gloomy cavern thus produced the savage beastshad plainly made their lair, for there were traces of blood and bonesupon the little rocky platform, and the trained ear of Wendot, who wasforemost, detected the sound of subdued and angry growling proceedingfrom the natural cave they were approaching.
"The beasts are in there," he said, pausing, and the next moment Raoulhad loosed the dogs, who darted like arrows from bows along the narrowtrack; and immediately a great he wolf had sprung out with a cry ofalmost human rage, and had fastened upon one of the assailants, whosepiercing yell made the girls shrink back and almost wish they had not come.
But Wendot was not far behind. He was not one of the huntsmen who giveall the peril to the dogs and keep out of the fray themselves. Drawinghis long hunting knife, and shouting to his brothers to follow him, hesprang down upon the rocky platform himself, and Llewelyn and Howel wereat his side in a moment. Godfrey would fain have followed, but his dutyobliged him to remain by the side of the princess; and he kept a firmthough respectful grasp upon Alphonso's arm, feeling that he must not byany means permit the heir of England to adventure himself into the fray.And indeed the boy's gashed hand hindered him from the use of hisweapon, and he could only look on with the most intense interest whilstthe conflict between the two fierce beasts and their angry cubs waswaged by the fearless lads, who had been through many such encountersbefore, and showed such skill, such address, such intrepidity in theirattack, that the young prince shouted aloud in admiration, and even thegirls lost their first sense of terror in the certainty of victory onthe side of the Welsh youths.
As for Raoul Latimer, he stood at a safe distance cheering on his dogs,but not adventuring himself within reach of the murderous fangs of thewolves. He occupied a position halfway between the spot upon which thefray was taking place and the vantage ground occupied by the royal partyin full sight of the strife.
Arthyn had passed several scornful comments upon the care the younggallant was taking of himself, when suddenly there was a cry from thespectators; for one of the cubs, escaping from the melee, ran full tilttowards Raoul, blind as it seemed with terror; and as it came withinreach of his weapon, the sharp blade gleamed in the air, and the littlecreature gave one yell and rolled over in its death agony. But that cryseemed to pierce the heart of the mother wolf, and suddenly, with almostpreternatural strength and activity, she bounded clean over the forms ofmen and dogs, and dashed straight at Raoul with all the ferocity of ananimal at bay, and of a mother robbed of her young.
The young man saw the attack; but his weapon was buried in the body ofthe cub, and he had no time to disengage it. Turning with a sharp cry ofterror, he attempted to fly up the rocky path; but the beast was uponhim. She made a wild dash and fastened upon his back, her fangs crushingone shoulder and her hot breath seeming to scorch his cheek. With a wildyell of agony and terror Raoul threw himself face downwards upon theground, whilst his cry was shrilly echoed by the girls -- all butArthyn, who stood rigidly as if turned to stone, a strange, fierce lightblazing in her eyes.
But help was close at hand. Wendot had seen the spring, and had followedclose upon the charge of the maddened brute. Flinging himself fearlesslyupon the struggling pair, he plunged his knife into the neck of thewolf, causing her to relax her hold of her first foe and turn upon him.Had he stabbed her to the heart she might have inflicted worse injuryupon Raoul in her mortal struggle; as it was, there was fierce fightleft in her still. But Wendot was kneeling upon the wildly strugglingbody with all his strength, and had locked his hands fast round her throat.
"Quick, Llewelyn -- the knife!" he cried, and his brother was beside himin an instant.
The merciful death stroke was given, and the three youths rose fromtheir crouching posture and looked each other in the eyes, whilst thewolf lay still and dead by the side of her cub.
"Methinks we have had something too much of Welsh wolves," was the onlycomment of Raoul, as he joined the royal party without a word to thebrothers who had saved his life.