56 l^otoel 



The vassals of Nannau hurried thither, and with them 

 went Madoc, but he could not bear to see the bringing 

 forth of him, whom he had helped to sepulchre within its 

 trunk ; he shrunk from witnessing the awful sight that 

 was about to be revealed, and plunging into the forest 

 was soon on the road to Dolgelly. The evening was 

 far advanced when Madoc reached the castle, and now 

 the night had closed in. The vassals worked by torch- 

 light, for such was the lady's command, and their own 

 eagerness confirmed it. Their strokes fell heavy on the 

 trunk of the tree, which sounded hollow, and somewhat 

 of a rattling was heard within, as if of iron and of bones. 

 Some feared to continue, and truly it was solemn work, 

 for the night was dark, and the wind exceeding loud, 

 and the tree stood forth in its sepulchral whiteness, with 

 its long skeleton-looking and bleached arms, which the 

 lightning had riven. A few strokes more, and the horrid 

 mystery was revealed. There stood the skeleton of 

 Howell ; his right hand grasped a rusty sword, and those 

 who saw it, well remembered that it had often been 

 wielded by their chieftain. 



