Llewelyn was full of talk that evening, and spoke with a rude eloquence
and fire that always riveted the attention of the child. He told of the
wild, lonely beauty of a certain mountain peak which he pointed out up
the valley, of the weird charm of the road thither, and above all of the
eagle's nest which was to be found there, and the young eaglets being
now reared therein, which he and Howel meant to capture and keep as
their own, and which they purposed to visit the very next day to see if
they were fit yet to leave the nest.

Gertrude sat entranced as the boy talked, and when she heard of the
eagle's nest she gave a little cry of delight.

"O Llewelyn, take me with you. Let me see the eagle's nest and the
little eaglets."

But the boy shook his head doubtfully.

"You could not get as far. It is a long way, and a very rough walk."

The child shook back her curling hair defiantly.

"I could do it! I know I could. I could go half the way on my palfrey,
and walk the rest. You would help me. You know how well I can climb. Oh,
do take me -- do take me! I should so love to see an eagle's nest."

But still Llewelyn shook his head.

"Wendot would not let you go; he would say it was too dangerous."