40 The :«Flame-Flower

the wolves came forth from the forest, and
crossed the dangerous swamp that lay all
round the rock, and
howled about the castle
-of Morddec; so that
c. . nhone except him and
rr, hig men dared venture
ale near it for fear of the wolves
w —no, nor even his men
# unless he were near to check
the wolves; for the wolves
knew him, being (as was said)
of his kin; and men even said
that he knew their language, and
could speak with them.
Morddec thought day and night of
the good lands of Evan, and of his cattle
and his fair house, and longed for
them (although the people would not
have suffered him to hold them); but
Evan was too strong for him, although
a mild and kindly man; so Morddec
feared and hated him.
One day, when Flamma was seven years
old, Evan and Honora and Flamma stood in