The Flame-Flower 69

daily nearer to them from the North. For
the men of Pratulum, and those of the whole
land, were no warriors and knew not the
use of arms, having grown unused to help-
ing themselves during the long years of
peace under the protection of their rulers
and masters. They, and their forefathers
for ages, had ploughed, and reaped, and
laboured for their conquerors; but the
sword they had not touched, and _ their
hands had no skill in its use. So they came
like sheep, huddled around their meeting-
place, to talk in fear and foreboding ; for
they had no plan.

“They will come upon us, these Northern
men, they murmured, “and will slay us,
and our women, and our children, as the
wolves slay the sheep; for they spare
none!”

“If ye will be sheep, ye shall die as
sheep,” said a young man who held in
his hand a javelin.

“What would you have us do, young
Griffith?” they asked.

“Fight!” said the young man,