The Flame-Flower 94

Then nearer and nearer came the shouts
and the howling of the wolf; and the wolf-
woman and those that followed her guidance
passed close to her hiding-place along the
way Griffith had taken; but Flamma knew
not of it, having fainted.

- After some space Flamma came to herself,
and arose painfully, and so crept along in the
direction of the camp.

Then she was aware of the howling of the
wolf once more, and of cries as of men who
are hurt: so she hurried on and peered out
of the brushwood to where Griffith stood
at bay with his back to the great oak, and
the foes from the North—seven there were
—hurled their javelins at him, and struck
at him with swords; the wolf- woman
urging them on, and taunting them as they
failed.

Three of the strangers lay already among
the roots of the oak, cut down by Griffith’s
axe.

And Flamma saw a strange thing. Al-
though the day was calm and still, without a
breeze, yet the great arms of the oak that

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