"Ha!" quoth Llewelyn quickly, "that thought hath likewise come to thee,
good Wenwynwyn."

The old man made no direct response, but went on speaking in low even tones.

"The maid has dwelt in the household of the great king. She has played
with his children, been the companion of the young princesses. She is
beloved of them and of the monarch and his wife. Let them but hear that
she is lost in the fastness of Dynevor, and the royal Edward will march
in person to her rescue. All the country will rise in arms to defend
itself. The north will join with the south, and Wales will shake off the
hated foreign yoke banded as one man against the foreign foe."

The boys listened spellbound. They had often talked together of some
step which might kindle the conflagration, but had never yet seen the
occasion. Hot-headed, rash, reckless as were the youths; wild, tameless,
and fearless as was the ancient bard; they had still been unable to hit
upon any device which might set a light to the train. Discontent and
resentment were rife all over the country, but it was the fashion rather
to temporize with the invader than to defy him. There was a strong party
gathering in the country whose policy was that of paying homage to
Edward and retaining their lands under his protection and countenance,
as being more truly patriotic and farsighted than continuing the old
struggle for supremacy among themselves. This was a policy utterly
incomprehensible both to the boys and the old man, and stirred the blood
of the lads to boiling pitch.

"What can we do?" asked Llewelyn hoarsely.

"I will tell you," whispered the old man, approaching close to the bed