“Come out like a man,” I said.  “One would think that you were some evildoer.”

“Master, I will swear that I am not.  Let that be, for I have somewhat to tell you that you will be glad to hear.”

“If that is true, why did you not come openly, instead of waiting till I had you in a corner?  Every one knows that there is reward for news from any honest man.”

“There are those who would take my life if they caught me, Master.  I have been seeking for speech with you alone all this day; I hoped the shepherd would leave you hereabout for his home, and then I would have come to you.”

“Well,” I said, “if you could tell me what I need to hear I will hold you safe from any.”

“Master, will you swear that?” said the man eagerly.

Then it came across me that maybe this was one of those who fell on Owen, for one might well look for a traitor among so many.

So I answered cautiously:  “Save and except you are one of those who have wrought harm to the prince you shall be safe.  If you are one who has him alive and in keeping you shall be safe also.”

“Master, you have promised, and it is well known that you keep your word.  I am your man henceforward, by reason of that promise.  I will give you a token that I have not harmed the prince.”

“What have you to tell?”

“Master, they say that you seek the lost valley, of which none will speak.”

“That seems true; but speak up, and mouth not your words so.”

“Here was I born and bred, Master,” said the man, still in the same growling voice.  “I know where the lost valley is hidden, though none may go there save at peril of life.  It is unlucky so much as to speak thereof.”

“Can you take me within sight of its place, so that I can find it?” I asked, with a wild hope at last springing up in me.

“I can; and, Master, unluckier than I am I cannot be, so that life is little to me.  Into that place I will even go for you, and risk what may befall me, if only you will find pardon for me.  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.”