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In the time of Prince Llewelyn the valleys below Snowdon were thickly clothed with forests, and the forests were full of wild animals. Foxes and wolves as well as stags and roamed there, and except for a hunting-lodge in a forest clearing, where the River Colwyn meets the river Glaslyn, there was no town or for miles around.
Prince Llewelyn was very fond of hunting. He came to stay at the hunting lodge with his servants and horses and hounds, and with him his wife, Princess Joan and their baby son. There was a nurse to look after the baby, so that the Princess could go out hunting with her husband. One day they all set off into the forest to hunt the stag, the Prince and the Princess on their horses, the servants on foot and the hounds trotting them eager for the chase. Only the nurse was left behind, to look after the baby who was asleep in his cradle. And no sooner had the hunting-party gone than the man who was courting the nurse came to the house and took her off for a walk in the woods. The door of the house was left open.
Meanwhile, the hounds had picked up the trail of a stag. They were big dogs, faithful and brave, and the bravest and most faithful of all was Gelert. Llewelyn was very fond of Gelert, who never failed to be the first on the scent and boldest in attacking the quarry. When the Prince that today Gelert was not among the other hounds he reined in his horse at once, and asked if anyone had seen the dog.
"Gelert was with us until we crossed that last stream, my lord," said of the servants.
"I saw him going back the way we said another.
Princess Joan touched her husband's arm. "Gelert must gone back to the house," she said anxiously. "Can be wrong there?"
At this Llewelyn was worried too. He the order to abandon the hunt, and they began to go back through the forest, the Prince and Princess cantering ahead on their horses. As they came in sight of the house they saw Gelert come out and run towards them, wagging his tail. But when he came closer the Princess gave a cry and sank fainting from her horse, for the dog was all smeared and dripping with blood.
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