at the Christian with such unerring skill that the goodness of his harness alone saved him from being wounded in as many places. The seventh shaft apparently found a less perfect part of the armor, and the Christian dropped heavily from his horse.

But what was the surprise of the Saracen, when, dismounting to examine the condition of his prostrate enemy, he found himself suddenly within the grasp of the European, who had had recourse to this artifice to bring his enemy within his reach! Even in this deadly grapple, the Saracen was saved by his agility and presence of mind. He unloosed the sword belt, in which the Knight of the Leopard had fixed his hold, and thus eluding his fatal grasp, mounted his horse, which seemed to watch his motions with the intelligence of a human being, and again rode off. But in the Saracen had lost his sword and his quiver of arrows, both of which were attached to the girdle, which he was obliged to abandon. He had also lost his turban in the struggle. These disadvantages seemed to incline the Moslem to a truce; he approached the Christian with his right hand extended, but no longer in a menacing attitude.

last encounter the

"There is truce betwixt our nations," he said, in the lingua franca commonly used for the

purpose of communication with the crusaders; wherefore should there be war betwixt thee and me? Let there be peace betwixt us."

"I am well contented," answered he of the Couchant Leopard; "but what security dost thou offer that. thou wilt observe the truce?"

The word of a follower of the Prophet was never broken," answered the emir. "It is thou, brave Nazarene, from whom I should demand security, did I not know that treason seldom dwells with courage."

The crusader felt that the confidence of the Moslem made him ashamed of his own doubts.

By the cross of my sword," he said, laying his hand on the weapon as he spoke, "I will be true companion to thee, Saracen, while our fortune wills that we remain in company together."

By Mohammed, Prophet of God, and by Allah, God of the Prophet," replied his late foeman, "there is not treachery in my heart toward thee. And now wend we to yonder fountain, for the hour of rest is at hand, and the stream had hardly touched my lip when I was called to battle by thy approach."

The Knight of the Couchant Leopard yielded a ready and courteous assent; and the late foes, without an angry look or gesture of doubt, rode side by side to the little cluster of palm trees.

FROM "THE TALISMAN."

Sir Walter Scott.

LOCHINVAR.

Oh, young Lochinvar is come out of the West! Through all the wide border his steed was the best;

And, save his good broadsword, he weapons had

none;

He rode all unarmed, and he rode all alone.
So faithful in love, and so dauntless in war,
There never was knight like the young Lochin-

var.

He stayed not for brake, and he stopped not for stone;.

He swam the Esk River, where ford there was

none;

But, ere he alighted at Netherby gate,

The bride had consented the gallant came late; For a laggard in love, and a dastard in war, Was to wed the fair Ellen of brave Lochinvar.

So boldly he entered the Netherby hall, Among bridesmen, and kinsmen, and brothers, and all.

Then spoke the bride's father, his hand on his sword

(For the poor craven bridegroom said never a

word),

"Oh, come ye in peace here, or come ye in war, Or to dance at our bridal, young Lord Lochin

var?"

"I long wooed your daughter-my suit you denied ;

Love swells like the Solway, but ebbs like its

tide;

And now I am come with this lost love of mine • To lead but one measure, drink one cup of wine. There are maidens in Scotland more lovely by

far,

That would gladly be bride to the young Lochinvar."

The bride kissed the goblet, the knight took it

up;

He quaffed off the wine, and he threw down the

cup;

She looked down to blush, and she looked up to sigh,

With a smile on her lips and a tear in her eye. He took her soft hand ere her mother could

bar

"Now tread we a measure!" said young Lochinvar.

So stately his form, and so lovely her face,
That never a hall such a galliard did grace;

While her mother did fret, and her father did

fume,

And the bridegroom stood dangling his bonnet and plume;

And the bridemaidens whispered, ""T were better by far

To have matched our fair cousin with young Lochinvar."

One touch to her hand, and one word in her ear, When they reached the hall-door, and the charger stood near;

So light to the croup the fair lady he swung, So light to the saddle before her he sprung! "She is won! We are gone, over bank, bush, and scaur!

They'll have fleet steeds that follow!" quoth young Lochinvar.

There was mounting 'mong Græmes of the Netherby clan ;

Forsters, Fenwicks, and Musgraves, they rode and they ran;

There was racing and chasing on Cannobie Lee, But the lost bride of Netherby ne'er did they

see.

So daring in love, and so dauntless in war,

Have you e'er heard of gallant like young Loch