CWM BYCHAN. 289 



was less vivid and less frequent. The thunder was subdued into 

 distant murmurs. The rain ceased to fall, the sky became clear, 

 the moon and stars shone forth in renewed brightness. In a short 

 time there was nothing to tell that the quiet order of nature had 

 been disturbed, save the rushing of the waterfall, which foamed 

 impetuously down its rugged channel. The sentinel on the lofty 

 eminence of Carreg y Saeth had, like his comrades, sought shelter 

 from the tempest ; but now that it was past he resumed his post, 

 and the rest of the party, emerging from their retreats, proceeded to 

 finish the work of sacrifice. 



They again approached their victim, and were about to sheath 

 their weapons in his breast, when a shrill cry from the sentinel 

 arrested the deed of blood, and the next instant beheld him hurled 

 from the precipice headlong into the deep waters below. A hun- 

 dred lances gleamed on the heights above ; the gorge was filled 

 with armed men : escape was impossible. The late storm had fa- 

 voured the approach of the English soldiers, who, under the guid- 

 ance of Thalwyn, had toiled ceaselessly to rescue their general from 

 destruction. With a simultaneous shout, " To the rescue ! to the 

 rescue ! no quarter to the miscreants !" they commenced the attack. 

 Those on the heights threw down stones and missiles, while others 

 forced their way up the paths, and fought hand to hand with the 

 outlaws. Thalwyn was the first to reach the place where Morti- 

 mer was bound ; he severed his fetters and placed a sword in his 

 hand, which the warrior was not slow in turning to good effect. 

 The struggle was brief, but bloody. The Welsh were cut ofF to a 

 man, and the EngHsh troops soon found themselves in undisputed 

 possession of the glen. 



But where was the brave boy who had conducted them through 

 the dangerous and untrodden paths, the page to whose fidelity and 

 courage Mortimer owed his happy deliverance ? He was sought 

 for in vain among the living, and was at length found lying 

 stretched on the ground, wounded and senseless. Mortimer hung 

 over him, and watched him with the tenderest solicitude ; but it 

 was long ere he recovered consciousness. When he first opened his 

 eyes, and saw who was near him, a faint smile played over his pallid 

 countenance ; and when he had regained a little strength he called 

 Mortimer to him, took his hand, and thus addressed him : — 



" I am dying. I would say a few words before the cold finger of 



death is laid for ever upon my lips. I am not what I seem to be : 



but it is time to away witli all disguise. I am Vinvena ! Nay, 



start not ; but hear me. You see before you the unfortunate 



VOL. VIII., no. xxiv. 37 



