The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-01-01
CHAPTER XIV.

and presumption and the whole train
of consequences.
CHAPTER XIV.
THE ALE HOUSE ON THE MOOR
It was quite dark when 1 moved on
again, and within half a mile I saw a
twinkle of light straight before me. 1
reflected and remembered that a small
ale house should be somewhere near at
hand, and that must be 1t. 1 adj
vanced warily and soon stood within
a dozen yards of the lighted window.
II all was quiet, surely I might venture
to get some food here. Now that I had
a hat my appearance was in no way
beyond ordinary for a country fellow.
I slipped my quarter-staff under a
bush, carefully marking the place that
I might find 1t again, and edged up to
the uncurtained window.
The first peep I took cheered my
heart like a cordial and brought the
water of desire into my mouth. Be-
side G cheerful fire stood a table and on
either side of it sat Ieuan Gwyllt n
Dafydd.
There they were at ease in their inn,
a dish Of smoking rashers of bacon and
a big brown loaf between them. The
good, hearty smell Of the fried bacon
crept through the crevices Of the ILL
fitting lattice and tickled my nostrils
richly with Its SAVIOR. I had been very
hungry before, and now my appetite
became clamorous for a share of this
empty but for them, and I stepped
forward and lifted the latch Of the
door. / went In and found myself in
q passage which ran through the house.
The landlord was coming along it in
the opposite direction with a great jug
of ale, and I followed him into the
room where the Red Men Of the Dusk
were feasting. Ieuan looked up and
saw my face over the landlords shoul~
der.
well. indeed" said he with his ready
smile, as for an expected guest, you
have come at last. Yes. that ISIS better
than not to come at all. Take a drink
Of the ale"
My hand was OF the jug with less
delay, / fear. than wac polite, n I
took a hearty draug1it, which could
not have given my parched throat more
delight had 1t been fresh brewed nee
tar.
"And you will have some supper with
me-" went on Ieuan. amiably. Come.
landlord some more bacon and a few
eggs again. Here ISIS a loaf big enough
for a dozen. We will finish the supper
before we begin business. Their we can
Ldlh dDOuIAt u6 pllCSS OIL lAAuSS HlillC
we sit by the fire with another jug Of
ale"
Ieuan purred smoothly along, and I
nodded a clownish agreement as be-
came my character, and the landlord
hustled about and set out a fresh
trencher and a chair before 1t. I seat
ed myself and began to make havoc
of the slices still left on the dish, and
the food tasted as sweetly as 1t had
o~a11a1 a Topor haH coponl rroffy vu,a11
to an end of his meal, and he leaned
his elbows on the table. took his face
between his hands, and watched me
with a smile.
YES" said he, when the landlord had
left the room. 81 have a good eye to
tell when a nan iss hungry. You have
run many miles on our feet since you
last took some food"
II have. Ieuan," l replied, land I
thank o for this, I can assure YOU"
Ieuan waved his hand, as bidding me
be easy.
You have taken to the road again.
that ISIS plain to see," he remarked.
How did they find you out?"
II quarreled with the fellow you saw
at the inn yesterday"
Yes. yes" agreed Ieuan; ut would
be about Owain's sister. I could see
that coming very clearly. But he wass
not much of a man: his eye wass
poor. You took a sword, and killed
him easy"
mo" said I; st did not go so far
as that. but l handled him pretty
roughly"
Him." said Ieuan, rather dissatis-
fed. TO kill ISIS the best. You are
sparing yourself many enemies by
that"
Our conversation ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
by the entrance of fresh customers, a
couple of yokels of the n~eighborhood
who called for ale, and sat in a corner
to drink together. They stayed about
an hour, and in this time I finished my
meal and sat In the warmest nook of
the chimney corner drying the last
moisture out of my clothes. Ieuan took
a seat near me and we conyersed upon
the price of cattle. dropping our voices
as we came apparently to the pitch of
the bargain, until we had reached a
point where we could talk Of what we
pleased. / told him Of the line I had
taken, n he, a past master in such
arts, approved.
How far iss this now from your
house?" he asked.
Mot more than twelve miles," I re-
piled; II have doubled about SO. I was
surprised to see you had not got farth-
er yourself"
MY pony went very lame" replied
Tenan. H ISIS only a little one. and
my weight has been too much for him
on so long q journey, SO I stopped here