"I am come," said the Prince, still standing in the falling ray of sun. "I have hasted to come to you with a word from my sister, the Princess Nest. Evil is devised against you--evil you are powerless now to resist. It comes swift, and you must bow your heads as bulrushes. The enemy is at hand--will be here on the morrow; and what the Princess says to Pabo, your chief, is, Fly for your life!" "That is what has been determined among us," said Howel. "It is well--let not a moment be lost!" Then, looking around, "I--my friends, my brothers, am as a squirrel in the forest, flying from branch to branch, pursued even by the hand that should have sheltered me. There is no trust to be laid in princes. I lean on none; I commend my cause to none. I place it in the hearts of the people. I would lay my head to sleep on the knee of any shepherd, fearless. I could not close my eyes under the roof of any prince, and be sure he would not sell me whilst I slept." None answered. It was true--they knew it--too true. "My brother," said Griffith--and he stepped to each and touched each hand--"I commit myself and the cause of my country to these hands that have held the plow and wielded the hammer, and I fear not. They are true." A shout of assurances, thrilled from every heart, and the eyes filled with tears. "My brothers, the moment has not yet arrived. When it comes, I will call and ye will answer." "We will!" "My life--it is for you." "And our lives are at your disposal." "We knew each other," said the prince, and one of his engaging smiles lighted his face. "But now to the matter in hand. The Bishop Bernard claims the entire region of Caio, from the mountains to where the Cothi enters the ravine, as his own, because it is the patrimony of David, which he has usurped. And forthwith he sends a mandate for the deposition of your Archpriest Pabo, and his arrest and conveyance under a guard to his castle of Llawhaden." "He shall not have him." "Therefore must he escape at once." "He shall fly to a place of security." "And that without a moment's delay." "It shall be so." "Furthermore, the bishop sends his chaplain, Cadell, to fill his room, to minister to you in holy things." "He shall not so minister to us." "And to occupy the presbytery." "My house!" exclaimed Pabo. "He shall not set foot therein," said Howel; "leave that to me." "I go," said Pabo sadly; "but I shall take my wife with me." "Nay," answered Howel hastily, "that must not be." "But wherefore not? She must be placed where safe from pursuit as well as I." "She shall be under my protection," said Howel the Tall. "Have confidence in me. All Caio will rise again were she to be molested. Have no fear; she shall be safe. But with you she must not go. Ask me not my reasons now. You shall learn them later." "Then I go. But I will bid her farewell first." "Not that even," said Howel, "lest she learn whither you betake yourself. That none of us must know."