His sword flashed out, and Gymbert was ware of bent bows on the rampart which had more than a menace for him.  He turned his horse slowly and went his way, only quickening his pace when he was out of range.  Just before that some man loosed an arrow at him, which missed him but nearly; and at that Jefan’s pent up rage found a vent.

“Take that man and bind him!” he cried to those on the rampart.  “Shame on us that a truce bearer should be shot at.  Bind him, and set me up a gallows that the country round may see.”

I saw the man throw down his bow and hold out his hands.

“The prince is right,” he said in a dull voice.

Jefan walked up to him and looked at him.

“So you own that?  Well, you shall not die.

“Set him in a hut till this affair is ended, and then we will think of what shall be done to him.”

His passion had blazed up and passed as the fierce rage of the Cymro will.  They took the man away, and he turned to us with a word of regret on his lips, and that was cut short by a yell from the rampart, while the gate was swung to and barred hastily.  I ran to my spear and shield, while Kynan cried to his men to get to their places; and scattered enough they seemed as they lined the ramparts.  Already they had driven the cattle from the enclosures westward down the hill to the woodlands.

As I took my spear from the place where it stood upright, I looked toward the hut where Hilda was, and saw her standing in the door.  It was the first sight I had of her that morning, and now her eyes were wide with wonder at the cries and bustle of armed men.

“Wilfrid, what is it all?” she cried.

“Gymbert has gathered some men, and is trying to make Jefan give us up,” I said, knowing it was best to tell her plainly.  “But you need have no fear; this place is strong, and the man cannot have any following worth naming.”

“There will be fighting?”

“I think there will be little; but the arrows may come over the rampart, and you must keep under cover.”

“Shall you take part if there is any?”

“Why, of course,” said I, laughing; “it is for you.”

She looked at me, and I know that for a moment she had a mind to beg me not to fight; but that she could not do, and so she only smiled a wan smile and bade me have a care.  So I bent and kissed her hand, and she went back into the hut.  Sighard was calling to her to come and tell him what all the turmoil was.

Then I hurried to where Jefan stood on the works by the gate, whence one could see all over the camp, and half round the hillside as well.  Not a shred of mist was left, and it was as glorious a morning as one could see; only it was hotter than the wont of a Maytime morning, and over the southward hung a heavy, white-topped cloud bank, with a promise of thunder in its pile.  Not that I noted it now, but I had done so.  From the ramparts there was more than enough to keep my eyes on the hillside.