Only, I do
not know if you will find aught of Owen the prince there."
"You must be in a bad way, my poor churl," said I, "if things are
thus with you. But if you will help me to that place, and there let
me find what I may, there is naught that may not be forgiven you.
Even were it murder, I will pay the weregild for you, and you shall
have cause to say that the place has no ill luck for you."
"Thane," said the man, in a new voice that was strangely familiar
to me, "you have spoken, and forgiven I shall surely be."
Then he rose from behind the rock and came to my side, and took my
hand and kissed it again and again, and surely I had seen his form
before.
"Thane, I am Evan the outlaw, and my life is yours because you
forgave me a little once, and saved me from the wolves, giving that
life back to me when I knew it well nigh gone."
I looked at the pale hair and beard of the man, and wondered.
Evan's had been black as night.
"It is Evan's voice," I said; "but you have changed strangely."
"Needs must I, Thane, with every man's hand against me, if I would
serve you and Owen the prince for your sake."
Then I looked round for my shepherd, but he had fled.
"Come to the house with me," I said. "I think that none will know
you, and if they do so I will answer for you."
"No, Thane; after tomorrow, seeing that even Howel sets such store
on finding the valley, as men tell me, I shall be safe even from
him.
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