The Flame-Flower 39

to the forests, like him, for evil deeds; and
these obeyed his will, for he was strong so
that they feared him.

These men had built the
castle with the stones of a
temple made by the con-
querors long before near
that spot; with much labour
they had moved the stones
and raised them on to the
rock, for Morddec had
learned the art of building from
the conquering race. But there
were some who said that he had built
the castle by magic arts, not with his
hands. Here lived he and his nine men;
and he had nought to give them save
what they robbed others of, as was their
way.

The rock was, as it were, an island in
the midst of flat ground; and no one might
reach the castle save by a ladder made of a
fir-trunk set with pegs. By day and by night
the ladder was drawn up into the castle, so
that no stranger might climb; and by night