with."
"Of course, of course, my dear, you would need that--and what company
could be more pleasant than that of a good stout man who could keep you
in meat and skins and firewood?"
Any one with a quarter of Branwen's intelligence would have guessed at
once that the woman referred to her absent son, about whose good
qualities she had been descanting at various times for several days
past. The poor girl shuddered as the light broke in on her, and a
feeling of dismay at her helpless condition, and being entirely in the
power of these savages, almost overcame her, but her power of
self-restraint did not fail her. She laughed, blushed in spite of
herself, and said she was too young to look at the matter in _that_
light!
"Not a bit; not a bit!" rejoined Ortrud. "I was younger than you when
my husband ran away with me."
"Ran away with you, Ortrud?" cried Branwen, laughing outright.
"Ay; I was better-looking then than I am now, and not nigh so heavy. He
wouldn't find it so easy," said the woman, with a sarcastic snort, "to
run away with me now."
"No, and he wouldn't be so much inclined to do so, I should think,"
thought Branwen, but she had the sense not to say so.
"That's a very, very nice hunting shirt you are making," remarked
Branwen, anxious to change the subject.
The woman was pleased with the compliment. She was making a coat at the
time, of a dressed deer-skin, using a fish-bone needle, with a sinew for
a thread.
"Yes, it is a pretty one," she replied. "I'm making it for my younger
son, who is away with his brother, though he's only a boy yet."
"Do you expect him back soon?" asked the captive, with a recurrence of
the sinking heart.
"In a few days, I hope. Yes, you are right, my dear; the coat is a
pretty one, and he is a pretty lad that shall wear it--not very handsome
in the face, to be sure; but what does that matter so long as he's stout
and strong and kind? I am sure his elder brother, Addedomar, will be
kind to you though he _is_ a bit rough to me sometimes."
Poor Branwen felt inclined to die on the spot at this cool assumption
that she was to become a bandit's wife; but she succeeded in repressing
all appearance of feeling as she rose, and, stretching up her arms, gave
vent to a careless yawn.
"I must go and have a ramble now," she said. "I'm tired of sitting so
long."
"Don't be long, my dear," cried the old woman, as the captive left the
hut, "for the ribs must be nigh roasted by this time."
Branwen walked quickly till she gained the thick woods; then she ran,
and, finally sitting down on a bank, burst into a passion of tears. But
it was not her nature to remain in a state of inactive woe. Having
partially relieved her feelings she dried her tears and began to think.
Her thinking was seldom or never barren of results. To escape somehow,
anyhow, everyhow, was so urgent that she felt it to be essential to the
very existence of the universe--her universe at least--that she should
lift herself out of the Impossible into the Stick-at-nothing. The thing
_must_ be done--by miracle if not otherwise.
And she succeeded--not by miracle but by natural means--as the reader
shall find out all in good time.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.
THE PRINCE UNDERTAKES STRANGE WORK.
When Prince Bladud entered upon what he really believed would be his
last journey, he naturally encountered very different experiences, being
neither so ignorant, so helpless, nor so improvident as his helpless
follower.
After a good many days of unflagging perseverance, therefore, he reached
the neighbourhood of the Hot Swamp, in good spirits and in much better
health than when he set out. He was, indeed, almost restored to his
usual vigour of body, for the fever by which he had been greatly
weakened had passed away, and the constant walking and sleeping in fresh
air had proved extremely beneficial. We know not for certain whether
the leprosy by which he had been attacked was identical in all respects
with the fatal disease known in the East, or whether it was something
akin to it, or the same in a modified form. The only light which is
thrown by our meagre records on this point is that it began with fever
and then, after a period of what seemed convalescence, or inaction, it
continued to progress slowly but surely. Of course the manner in which
it had been caught was more than presumptive evidence that it was at
least of the nature of the fatal plague of the East.
Although his immunity from present suffering tended naturally to raise
the spirits of the prince, it did not imbue him with much, if any, hope,
for he knew well he might linger for months--even for years--before the
disease should sap all his strength and finally dry up the springs of
life.
This assurance was so strong upon him that, as we have said, he once--
indeed more than once--thought of taking his own life. But the
temptation passed quickly. He was too conscientious and too brave to do
that; and had none of that moral cowardice which seeks escape from the
inevitable in hoped-for oblivion. Whether his life was the gift of many
gods or of one God, he held that it was a sacred trust which he was
bound in honour to guard. Therefore he fought manfully against
depression of spirits, as one of the destroyers of life, and even
encouraged hope, frequently looking at the fatal white spot on his
shoulder, and trying to persuade himself that it was not spreading.
In this state of mind Bladud arrived one day at the abode of the hunter
of the Hot Swamp. It was not, indeed, close to the springs which caused
the swamp, but stood in a narrow sequestered gully quite five miles
distant from it. The spot had been chosen as one which was not likely
to be discovered by wanderers, and could be easily defended if it should
be found. Moreover, its owner, as Bladud had been warned, was a fierce,
morose man, who loved solitude and resented interference of any kind,
and this was so well known in the thinly-peopled neighbourhood that
every one kept carefully out of his way.
Sometimes this eccentric hunter appeared at the nearest village--twenty
miles distant from his home--with some pigs to barter for the few
commodities which he wanted from time to time; but he and his horse,
cow, and dogs ate up all the remaining produce of his small farm--if
such it might be called.
It was a beautiful evening when the prince walked up to the door of the
little hut, in front of which its owner was standing, eyeing him with a
forbidding scowl as he approached.
He was in truth a strange and formidable man, such as one would rather
not meet with in a lonely place. There appear to have been giants in
those days; for this hunter of the Hot Swamp was nearly, if not quite,
as tall as Bladud himself, and to all appearance fully as strong of
limb. A mass of black hair covered his head and chin; a skin
hunting-shirt his body, and a hairy boar-skin was thrown across his
broad shoulders. Altogether, he seemed to his visitor the very
personification of ferocity. A huge bow, ready strung, leaned against
his hut. As Bladud advanced with his own bow unstrung, the man
apparently scorned to take it up, but he grasped and leaned upon a staff
proportioned to his size.
Anxious to propitiate this mysterious being, the prince approached with
steady, unaffected ease of manner, and a look of goodwill which might
have conciliated almost any one; but it had no effect on the hunter.
"What want ye here?" he demanded, when his visitor was near enough.
"To enter your service."
"_My_ service!" exclaimed the man with a look of surprise that for a
moment banished the scowl. "I want no servant. I can serve myself well
enough. And, truly, it seems to me that a man like you should be
ashamed to talk of service. You are more fitted for a master than a
servant. I trow you must have some bad motive for seeking service with
a man like me. Have you murdered any one, that you flee from the face
of your fellows and seek to hide you here?"
"No, I am not a murderer."
"What then? Are you desirous of becoming one, and making me your
victim?" asked the hunter, with a look of contempt; "for you will find
that no easy job, stout though you be. I have a good mind to crack your
crown for coming here to disturb my solitude!"
"Two can play at that game," replied Bladud, with a seraphic smile.
"But I am truly a man of peace. I merely want to look after your cattle
for occupation; I will gladly live in the woods, away from your
dwelling, if you will let me serve you--my sole desire being, like your
own, to live--and, if need be, to die--alone."
For a few moments there was a softened expression on the hunter's face
as he asked, in a tone that had something almost of sympathy in it--
"Is there a woman at the bottom of this?"
"No. Woman has nothing to do with it--at least, not exactly--not
directly," returned Bladud.
"Hah!" exclaimed the man, paying no regard to the modification implied
in the answer; and advancing a step, with eager look, "did she tempt you
on and then deceive you; and scorn you, and forsake you for another
man?"
"You mistake me. The poor woman I was thinking of was an old one,
labouring under a deadly disease."
On hearing this the hunter's softened look vanished, and his former
scowl returned.
"Go!" he said, sternly; "I can take care of the cattle myself, without
help. But stay, a man of your peaceful nature and humility may,
perchance, not be too proud to take charge of pigs."
Bladud flushed--not so much because of the proposal as the tone of
contempt in which it was uttered; but, remembering his condition and his
object, he mastered his feelings.
"I am willing to take charge of your pigs," he said, in a quiet tone;
"where do they feed?"
"A goodish bit from here. Not far from the Hot Swamp, that lies on the
other side of the hill."
The man pointed to a high ridge, just visible beyond the gully in which
his hut lay concealed, which was clothed from base to summit with dense
forest.
"There are plenty of pigs there," he continued in a milder tone. "How
many I don't know, and don't care. I brought the old ones here, and
they have multiplied. If you choose to keep them together, you are
welcome. I want only a few of them now and then. When I do, I hunt
them together and drive them with my dogs. You may kill and eat of them
as you please; but don't come nigh my hut, mind you, else will I put an
arrow in your heart."
"Good, I will take care," returned the prince gravely. "And if you come
nigh _my_ dwelling, is it understood that I am to put an arrow in _your_
heart? I could easily do it, for I am a fair marksman."
Something approaching almost to a smile crossed the hunter's swart
visage at this reply. It did not last, however.
"Go!" he said. "Keep your jesting for the pigs, if they have a mind to
listen."
"I will try them. Mayhap they are more sociable than their owner. And
now, master, might I ask for the loan of one of your dogs? It might be
useful in herding."
"None of them would follow you. Yet--yes, the pup might do so. It has
not yet come to care for me much."
So saying, the man went to the rear of his hut, and, from the kennel
there, fetched a young but full-grown dog, somewhat resembling a
retriever, which gambolled joyously at the prospect of being let out for
a run.
"There, take him. He comes of a good breed. Keep the leash on his neck
till you have given him his first feed; he'll follow you after that."
"What is his name?" asked the prince.
"No name. Like his master in that!"
Taking the leash in his hand, Bladud said farewell, and went away into
the woods, while the hunter of the Swamp, turning round, stooped as he
entered his hut, and shut the door behind him.
It may seem strange that the prince should thus voluntarily seek for
menial occupation, but, in truth, he shrank from the idea of living
absolutely to himself alone, and felt a strong desire to have some sort
of responsibility in connection with a human being, however short his
life on earth might be, or however uncouth the individual with whom he
might have to do--for man is intensely social, as only those who have
dwelt in absolute solitude can thoroughly understand.
CHAPTER NINETEEN.
PRINCE BLADUD TAKES POSSESSION OF HIS ESTATE AND BEGINS BUSINESS.
Pondering over the circumstances of the strange being from whom he had
just parted, Bladud proceeded to the summit of the hill, or ridge of
high land, on the other side of which lay the region in which he had
made up his mind to end his days.
It took him full two hours to make his way through the dense underwood
to the top; but when this point was reached, the magnificent panorama of
land and water which met his view was a feast to his eyes, which for a
time caused him to forget his forlorn condition.
In all directions, wherever he gazed, ridges and knolls, covered with
dense woods and richest vegetation, were seen extending from his
elevated outlook to the distant horizon. Cliffs, precipices, dells, and
bright green open spaces varied the landscape; and in the bottom of the
great valley which lay immediately beneath his feet there meandered a
broad river, in whose waters were reflected here and there the
overhanging trees, or green patches of its flower-bespangled banks, or
the rich browns and yellows of spots where these banks had been broken
away by floods; while, elsewhere, were seen glittering patches of the
blue sky.
Far away in the extreme distance a soft cloud of thin transparent vapour
hung steadily over a partially open space, which he rightly conjectured
to be the Hot Swamp, of which he had often heard wondrous stories in his
boyhood, but which he had not been permitted to visit, owing to the
tribes living near the springs having been at war with his father.
During his absence in the East, King Hudibras had attacked and almost
exterminated the tribes in question, so that the Hot Swamp region, just
at the time when the prince arrived, was a land of desolation.
Though desolate, however, it was, as we have tried to show, exceeding
lovely, so that our wanderer was ravished with the prospect, and seated
himself on a bank near the top of the ridge to contemplate its beauties
in detail.
His canine companion sat down beside him, and looked up inquiringly in
his face.
During the first part of the journey the pup had strained a good deal at
the leash, and had displayed a strong desire to return to its former
master, as well as a powerful objection to follow its new one. It had
also, with that perversity of spirit not uncommon in youth, exhibited a
proneness to advance on the other side of bushes and trees from its
companion, thus necessitating frequent halts and numerous
disentanglements. On all of these occasions Bladud had remonstrated in
tones so soft, and had rectified the error so gently, that the pup was
evidently impressed. Possibly it was an observant pup, and appreciated
the advantages of human kindness. Perhaps it was a sagacious pup, and
already recognised the difference between the old master and the new.
Be this as it may, Bladud had not been long seated there in a state of
dreamy abstraction, when he became conscious of the inquiring look.
Returning it with interest, but without speaking, he gazed steadily into
the soft brown eyes that were turned up to his. At last the prince
opened his lips, and the dog, turning his head slightly to one side with
a look of expectancy, cocked his ears.
"Browneyes," he said, "you'll grow to be a fine dog if you live."
There was the slightest possible tremor in the pup's tail. Of course
there might have been more than a tremor if the caudal appendage had
been at liberty instead of being sat upon. It was enough, however, to
indicate a tendency to goodwill.
"Come here, Browneyes," said Bladud, holding out his hand.
But the pup was hardly prepared for such a complete and sudden
concession as the invitation implied. He repeated the tremor, however,
and turned his head to the other side, by way of a change, but sat
still.
A happy thought occurred to the prince--justifying the remark of Solomon
that there is nothing new under the sun. He opened his wallet, took out
a small piece of meat, and held it out.
"Here, Brownie, have a bit." Another justification of Solomon, for the
natural abbreviation of names is not new!
The pup advanced with confidence, ate the morsel, and looked inquiringly
for more, at the same time wagging its tail with unqualified
satisfaction.
"Yes, Brownie, you shall have more."
The second morsel was bestowed; the tail wagged effusively; the name of
Brownie became irrevocably associated with food, and a loving look and
tone with favours to come. Thus a title and a friendship were
established which endured through life and was terminated only by death.
So trivial sometimes are the incidents on which the great events of
life are hinged!
We pause here to deprecate the idea that this fine animal's affection
was gained through its stomach. Many a time had its old master thrown
it savoury junks and bones of food; but a scowl and sometimes a growl,
had often been thrown into the mess, thereby robbing the gift of all
grace, and checking the outflow of affection. Bladud's character
similarly, was as clearly perceived by the manner of his gifts. Indeed,
it would have been a poor compliment to the intelligence of Brownie--or
of any dog, young or old--to suppose it capable of misunderstanding the
gentle tone, the kindly glance, and the patting hand of Bladud. At all
events, the result was that Brownie, with an expressive wag and bark,
vowed fidelity from that date to the prince, and, in the same act,
renounced allegiance to the hunter of the Hot Swamp.
From that date, too, the master and the dog entered upon, and kept up at
frequent though brief intervals, a species of conversation or mental
intercourse which, if not profound, was equal to much that passes for
intercourse among men, and was, at all events, a source of eminent
satisfaction to both.
Removing the leash, Bladud descended the hill, with Brownie gambolling
delightedly round him.
That night they slept together under the spreading branches of a
magnificent oak.
There was no need to keep watch against wild beasts, for Brownie slept,
as it were, with one eye open, and the slightest symptom of curiosity
among the wild fraternity was met by a growl so significant that the
would-be intruder sheered off.
The sun was high when the prince awoke and arose from his bed of leaves.
The pup, although awake long before, had dutifully lain still, abiding
his master's time. It now arose and shook itself, yawned, and looked up
with an expression of "what next?"
Having lighted a fire, Bladud set up the carcase of a wild duck to
roast. He had shot it the day before on his way to the valley of the
Swamp. As this was a proceeding in which the pup had a prospective
interest, he sat by attentively.
"Ah! Brownie," said his master, sitting down to wait for the cooking of
the bird, "you little know what a sad life awaits you. No companionship
but that of a doomed man, and I fear you will be a poor nurse when the
end comes, though assuredly you will not be an unsympathetic one. But
it may be long before the end. That's the worst of it. Come, have a
bit."
He threw him a leg as he spoke, and the two breakfasted peacefully
together on the banks of the shining river, slaking their thirst, after
it was finished, at the same pure stream.
While doing so the prince observed with satisfaction that large trout
were rising freely, and that several flocks of wild ducks and other
aquatic birds passed both up and down the river.
"Now, Brownie," he said, when the meal was concluded, "you and I must
search for a convenient spot on which to build our hut."
Before starting off, however, he uncovered his shoulder and looked
anxiously at the white spot. It was as obvious as ever, but did not
seem to him increased since he left home. A very slight matter will
sometimes give hope to a despairing man. Under the influence of this
negative comfort, Bladud took up his weapons and sallied forth, closely
followed by the pup.
In the haste of departure and the depressed state of his mind he had, as
has been said, forgotten his sword, or deliberately left it behind him.
The only weapon he now possessed, besides the bow and arrows given to
him by the Hebrew, was a small bronze hatchet, which was, however, of
little use for anything except cutting down small trees and branches for
firewood. He carried a little knife, also, in his girdle, but it was
much too small to serve the purpose of an offensive weapon, though it
was well suited to skin wild animals and cut up his food. As for his
staff, or club--it might be of use in a contest with men, but would be
of little service against bears or wolves. Casting it aside, therefore,
he cut for himself a ponderous oaken staff about five feet long, at one
end of which there was a heavy knotted mass that gave it great weight.
The other end he sharpened to a fine point. This formidable weapon he
purposed to wield with both hands when using it as a club, while, if
need should arise, he might also use it as a spear.
"I was foolish, Brownie," he remarked, while rounding off the head of
this club, "to leave my good sword behind me, for though I have no
desire to kill men, there may arise a need-be to kill bears. However,
it cannot be helped, and, verily, this little thing will be a pretty
fair substitute."
He twirled the little thing round his head with one hand, in a way that
would have rejoiced the heart of a modern Irishman, had he been there to
see, and induced the pup to jump aside in surprise with his tail between
his legs.
A few minutes later, and he was striding over the beautiful land in all
directions, examining and taking possession, as it were, of his fair
domain.
In passing over a knoll which was crowned by several magnificent oaks,
they came suddenly on a family of black pigs, which were luxuriating on
the acorns that covered the ground.
"My future care!" muttered the prince, with a grim smile, for he hardly
believed in the truth of all he was going through, and almost expected
to awake and find it was a dream.
The pigs, headed by a huge old boar, caught sight of the intruders at
the same time, and stood for a moment or two grunting in stolid
astonishment.
With all the gaiety of inexperience, the pup went at them single-handed,
causing the whole herd to turn and fly with ear-splitting screams--the
old boar bringing up the rear, and looking round, out of the corner of
his little eyes, with wicked intent.
Bladud, knowing the danger, sprang after them, shouting to the pup to
come back. But Brownie's war-spirit had been aroused, and his training
in obedience had only just begun. In a moment he was alongside the
boar, which turned its head and gave him a savage rip with a gleaming
tusk. Fortunately it just barely reached the pup's flank, which it cut
slightly, but quite enough to cause him to howl with anger and pain.
Before the boar could repeat the operation, Bladud sent his club
whizzing in advance of him. It was well aimed. The heavy head alighted
just above the root of the boar's curly tail. Instantly, as if
anticipating the inventions of the future, fifty steam whistles seemed
to burst into full cry. The other pigs, in sympathetic alarm, joined in
chorus, and thus, yelling inconceivably, they plunged into a thicket and
disappeared.
Bladud almost fell to the ground with laughing, while Brownie, in no
laughing mood, came humbly forward to claim and receive consolation.
But he received more than consolation, for, while the prince was engaged
in binding up the wound, he poured upon him such a flood of solemn
remonstrance, in a tone of such injured feeling, that the pup was
evidently cut to the heart--his self-condemned, appealing looks proving
beyond a doubt that the meaning of what was said was plain to him,
though the language might be obscure.
On continuing the march, Brownie limped behind his master--a sadder and
a wiser dog. They had not gone far when they came on another family of
pigs, which fled as before. A little further on, another herd was
discovered, wallowing in a marshy spot. It seemed to Bladud that there
was no good feeding in that place, and that the creatures were dirtying
themselves with no obvious end in view, so, with the pup's rather
unwilling assistance, he drove them to more favourable ground, where the
acorns were abundant.