Towards noon, they were obliged to leave the edge of the forest, and to
ascend to the brow of the hills; as it was certain that any parties of
the enemy, who might be in the forest, would be assembled near its
edge, in readiness to pour suddenly down.
More than once they heard voices, but a short distance away; and
paused, for a time, to allow parties of men to cross ahead of them.
Their greatest danger lay in crossing the side valleys, but as the
Welsh would be expecting no one to come down these, they succeeded in
crossing without being observed.
They were well content when, just as night was falling, they came down
upon Llanidloes. Crossing the wooden bridge over the stream, they
entered the town boldly; for, looking down upon it, they had seen many
men in armour in the streets, and knew that the place was occupied by
the English.
At the gate at the end of the bridge they were asked their business,
but they replied that they could only answer that to the officer
commanding, and were taken before him.
"Whence come you, friends?" the latter said. "Surely you must be
English, by your height; but what you are doing here, in times like the
present, I know not. Come you from the king's army, or from the north?"
"We left Welshpool before daybreak," Oswald said, "and have travelled
through the forest.
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