footed 5kle'<$ 0afe. 55 



heard, did she pace her lonely chamber and strain her 

 sight through the gathered mist, to see if he was 

 coming. 



The next day, and the next, did the vassals of Nannau 

 renew their search. Again every glen was visited, and 

 every forest-walk was traced and retraced ; the base, too, 

 of every hill was carefully examined, lest the chieftain 

 should have fallen from some height, which the creeping 

 bramble and thickly-tangled underwood had concealed. 

 But no trace of Howel was discovered. 



Thus one year succeeded to another, and no tidings 

 of the chieftain were received, till at length an armed 

 horseman was seen to urge his weary steed up the hill 

 that leads to Nannau, from the neighbouring town of 

 Dolgelly. The rain fell fast, and the wind blew a 

 perfect hurricane, but he seemed not to heed either the 

 one or the other, or to spare the horse on which he 

 rode. The vassals hastened to the castle-gate, and the 

 lady looked anxiously from the window. Perhaps a 

 faint hope flashed across her mind that the Lord of 

 Nannau was returning. But it was not him, although 

 the stranger brought tidings where he might be found. 

 He told the lady that the enemy of her house was dead ; 

 that he in dying, had conjured him to bring to her ear 

 tidings of her husband, and to make known the dreadful 

 mystery of his sudden disappearance. He then told 

 his tale ; for it was Madoc, who came thus late, and he 

 referred to the blasted oak in confirmation of the truth. 



