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The first scout brought the intelligence that it was not the men of King Hudibras who were in the neighbourhood, but those of Gadarn, the great chief of the far north, who had come there with an armed force in search of his daughter she having gone lost, stolen, or strayed in the wilderness. "Is the band a large one?" demanded Addedomar.
The baths, too, were in such an advanced stage that they were able to fill them on the arrival of the host and allow the interested and impatient chiefs to bathe. "Don't let them go in till you give the signal that the baths are ready," said Gadarn to the king in that grave, suppressed manner which indicated that the northern chief was inclined to mischief. "Why?" asked the king.
The pigs, however, unlike the men, knew how to find the cooler parts of the swamp. Perceiving his error when he stood knee-deep in the swamp, Gadarn now sought to rectify it by sending a detachment of swift runners back for his bows and arrows.
Borrow's unpublished work, 'Celtic Bards, Chiefs and Kings." It opened with a vivid story of the coming of Hu Gadarn and his Cymry to Britain: "Hu and his people took possession of the best parts of the island, either driving the few Gaels to other districts or admitting them to their confederacy.
First, that the number of warriors at their disposal, counting those of King Hudibras and those under Gadarn, amounted to a sufficient force wherewith to meet the invaders in open fight; second, that a junction between their forces must be effected that night, for, according to usual custom in such circumstances, the enemy would be pretty sure to attack before daybreak in the morning; and, third, that what was to be done must be set about as soon as darkness favoured their operations.
Now marshal your men and take them off at once. We shan't have to wait long, for Addedomar is an active villain." Gadarn was right. The robber chief was very early astir that morning, and marched with his host so silently through the forest, that the very birds on the boughs gave them, as they passed underneath, but a sleepy wink of one eye and thrust their beaks again under their wings.
Those who escape the river may go home and take my blessing along with them." "Then do you intend to divide our troops into two bodies?" asked Bladud. "Of course I do. We can't have an ambush without dividing, can we?" "Division means weakness," observed Gunrig. "You were ever obstinate, Gunrig," said Gadarn, sharply.
"I will follow you ere long," said Gadarn, as he grasped the hand of the invalid at parting, "for I have business at the court of King Hudibras." Gunrig raised himself in the litter in which he was borne by four men, and looked the northern chief earnestly in the face. "You have not yet found your daughter?" he asked. "Well no. At least not exactly." "Not exactly!" repeated Gunrig in surprise.
"Dared he to think of another girl when he was engaged to my daughter!" he said between his teeth. "It is well that Gunrig is dead, for assuredly I would have killed him." "It is well indeed," returned Gadarn, "for if your killing had not been sufficient, I would have made it more effectual. But he is out of the way now, so we may dismiss him."
During the remainder of that day Gadarn could do little else than chuckle or laugh. Bladud's comment was that it had been "most successful." "A bloodless victory!" remarked Beniah. "And didn't they yell?" said Arkal. "And splutter?" added Maikar.
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