"It is the pylgain," replied his man, Pont d'Arche, who knew something of Welsh.
"The coming in of Christmas. They salute it with lights and carols and prayers and dances."
Then a man came rushing up the hill; he was breathless. On reaching where stood Rogier, he gasped: "They come--a thousand men and all armed."
Along the road could be seen a waving line of light, and from all sides, down the mountains ran cascades of light as well.
"There is not a man is not armed, and the women each bear a torch; they come with them--to see revenge done on us."
"Rogier," he said, "this is no pylgain for us--the whole country is stirring. The whole people is under arms, and swearing to have our blood."
"We will show these conies of Cynwyl that we are not afraid of them."
"They are no conies now, but lions. Can you stand against a thousand men? And--this is not all, I warrant. The whole of the Towy Valley, and that of the Teify, all Dyfed, maybe all Wales, is up to-night. Can you make your way through?"
"By the paunch of the Bastard. I relish not running before those conies."
"Then tarry--and they will hang you beside Cynwyl's bell, where you slung their kinsmen."
Rogier's face became mottled with mingled rage and fear.
Meanwhile his men had rallied around them, running from the several houses they were lodging in; a panic had seized them. Some, without awaiting orders, were saddling their horses.
The river of light had become a river of song. The thunder of the voices of men and the clear tones of the women combined. And from every rill of light that descended from the heights to swell the advancing current, came the strain as well.
"They have come caroling," said Rogier disdainfully.
"Carol, call you this?" exclaimed Cadell. "It is the war-song of the sons of David. 'Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered: let them also that hate Him, flee before Him. Like as the smoke vanisheth, so shalt Thou drive them away: and like as wax melteth at the fire, so let the ungodly perish----'"
"I will hear no more," said Rogier. "Mount! And Heaven grant us a day when we may revenge this."
"I will go too," said Cadell. "Here I dare not remain."
Before the advancing river of men arrived at the crossing of the Annell, the entire band of the Normans had fled--not one was left.