wood, which at length became so numerous that Sir Archibald began to be in doubt as to whether it would be possible for him to find the way back to his sleeping comrade. He quickened his step, but did not gain upon the retreating knight. He called out to him to turn, in the usual terms of challenge; but the dark figure continued gliding dimly before him like a phantasm seen in a dream. Our adventurer at length stood still in amazement not unallied to superstitious terror; and at that moment the figure stopped also, and turning round made another sign with the

arm.

Douglas renewed his pursuit, but more slowly; for the ground was here broken and uneven, and at any rate he perceived that he whom he followed now awaited his approach. The inequalities of the soil were not greater than those in which antiquarians sometimes discover the vestiges of a Roman camp; and as the space was open for a considerable distance, he could see distinctly enough, notwithstanding the growing, obscurity of the hour, the form of the sable knight standing tall and lonely in the midst. Sir Archibald stepped forward more quickly, for he was now close to the object of his pursuit; arranging his dress as he advanced, and loosening his sword in the scabbard, like a man who prepares for an immediate and desperate encounter. These operations, however, could not have withdrawn his eyes from the motionless figure before him for more than a few seconds: and yet, on raising his head to address his enemy, he found that the spot whereon he had stood was vacant. No rock, no stone, no bush, no tree large enough to conceal the figure of a man was within many hundred yards; a deep silence reigned on the desert place; and as Douglas gazed wildly around him, the idea took possession of his mind, that he had all the time been walking in his sleep, and had just awakened from a dream.

No process of reasoning could account for what he had seen. If the figure had been in bodily presence that of the Black Knight, was it likely that this desperado, who had not shrunk from his sword even when it was backed by those of two of his followers, would have declined meeting him on an equal field? If a phantom presented to him by magical art, and this seemed the more rational supposition of the two, was it commissioned express from hell for the doughty purpose of leading him a short distance out of his way? He had heard of men who had been unhorsed and wounded by spectre-knights; but, on the present occasion, his antagonist's triumph appeared to consist in causing him

to extend a little his midnight walk, in order to leave him suddenly alone on a desert plain!

At all events, it was necessary to regain his camp with as little delay as possible; otherwise, he should have to enter on the morrow, and its increasing chance of adventure, after a sleepless night. The place could not be far distant, nor very difficult to find; for it was on lofty ground, which would doubtless present itself after he had walked on for a few minutes in any direction. The night was hazy, but could hardly be called dark; for the moon was at least dimly visible through the film which overspread the sky.

Sir Archibald walked on, thoughtful and perplexed, directing his steps towards the nearest eminence. A little way beyond this he saw without much surprise the main road; and entering it with alacrity he proceeded at a brisk pace in search of the opening where he and his friend had left it to seek an encampment for the night. He had not gone far, however, when the appearance of a low roofed hut, built against a bank which lined the right-hand side of the highway, convinced him that he was beyond the place; for a shelter of this kind, had they been aware of its existence, would have seemed to our travellers greatly preferable to the open air. After standing undecided for a moment, he was about to turn back, with a hearty anathema directed against the phantom-knight, when the door of the cottage opened, and a female putting forth her head enveloped in a hood, beckoned him to approach.

"Is it you at last, Messire?" said she in a low voice, "I had given up all hope of seeing you; although there being no nearer shelter even for a dog, I could not conjecture what had become of you."

"For whom do you take me, my pretty maid?" demanded Douglas, paying this compliment to an extremely handsome face, which he saw dimly, peeping from under the peasant's hood.

"For a foreign knight, by your garb and tongue; and for a friend to the damsel of Laval, by your brightening glance and flushing cheek, when we talked of her this morning in the hostelrie."

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By my faith, you have a keen eye for such matters," said the knight; "but does its ken extend no further? Why have you sat up so late by this hazy moon, which seems fitter to light a spectre through the churchyard than to serve as the lamp of love?"

"Where is your friend?" demanded the young woman

impatiently, without regarding this address; "why tarries he? In this country, Sir Knight, you should be aware, fellow-travellers are only too happy to have the advantage of one another's protection even in daylight.”

"It is a country, I allow, where a man may meet with strange comrades under the beams of the moon. But as to my friend, I trow he is fast asleep on a hill side, somewhere about two miles off; for you shall know that he and I came from a land where weary travellers are not nice about their lodgings."

"I am sorry for it; for I would trust more to his keen eye and ready tongue, than to the sharp sword of ere a knight of you all!"

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Nay, as for that," said the knight, who had no touch of envy in his disposition, "my friend lacks not a sharp sword to boot, nor yet a stout heart and strong arm to use it. But come, the time flies apace: let me know your trouble; and if your quarrel be good, this poor weapon of mine may even stead you as well as another.'

"I would there had been two!" said the young woman; "and yet, against odds of at least a score, what matters it? Come on, Sir Knight, follow me in the name of God, and for the sake of your lady love!" and, gliding away from the hut, she pressed up the steep bank beside it, with an agility which cost the knight, cumbered as he was with thirty or forty pounds weight of armour, no little exertion to emulate.

"I call you to notice," said he, when they had gained the summit, "that the odds you mention, although they may possibly be held at bay for a moment in the mêlée till rescue comes up, cannot be opposed, with the slightest chance of eventual success, by a single sword. I am willing, in terms of my knightly oath, to attempt in your behalf all that man may attempt; but still, I pray you to remember, I can do no more than man may do."

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Listen," replied the girl, "and waste not time in speaking. This is not the first time I have committed myself to the protection of the most holy St. Julian. Last year I made another journey, in the course whereof I was overrun, and trampled on the ground by a furious horseman. On that occasion, my life was preserved by the damsel of Laval; who, forgetting the meanness of my rank in the greatness of my misfortune, caused me to be carried into one of her father's castles, where she tended me, even like a young mother nursing her sick child."

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Weep not, good wench," said the knight, touching the

corners of his eyes with his gloves; "weep not, but say on; for I already take upon me the adventure you have to propose."

The times have now turned round,” continued she, "I am well and safe; and the damsel herself is this night in sorer peril than that from which she rescued me."

"St. Bride of Bothwell!" cried Douglas, "what is this? Why, trifler, did you not speak at once? She in peril! Say on, thou prating fool."

Hush! hush! I thought" and she shook her head I thought from the first that the other would have been the better man! But still, even a mere warrior is better than nobody at all; and the moment is now come when something must be done. Sir Knight, it was known to-day in this country-side, that there was some mischief brewing for the house of Laval. The Lord de Retz is said to be stripping his house-tree, branch by branch, by the sale of his estates to the sovereign duke. The remonstrances of his kindred have been listened to with coldness by the buyer, and with haughty and indignant surprise by the seller; and it is thought that the end will be nothing less than a civil war in Brittany. Now if you are astonished that such an event could be brought about by the quarrels of a single family—”

"Tush! I am astonished at nothing of the kind:-it is our way over the water. Go on, in the name of God!"

"There is something more, however, than the mere sale of the estates. Gilles de Retz is a man of such prodigious pride, that the heavens themselves do not seem to be high enough for a canopy for his head. More than one bold baron, claiming kindred with himself, has already demanded his daughter, and been scornfully refused; and it is now believed that he looks far over the crests of them all for a husband for the heiress of Laval. If this be true, whatever may be the cause which sets them to loggerheads, the damsel will be snatched at in the confusion by more than one gauntleted hand; and this very hour, it will be debated among the malcontents, whether she shall not be seized upon her journey, and detained as a hostage, till all questions are settled between them and the Lord de Retz." How know you this?" demanded Douglas, "and who are you who speak above your seeming rank?"

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"My rank is what it seems; although, being the favourite niece of a priest-whose soul be happy!-I received better instruction than I have use for. My real insignificance, and apparent ignorance, united with accident, have

allowed to come to my knowledge what I have told you. Is this enough? Am I right in guessing you to be one who would venture life and limb in the service of the damsel of Laval? Am I right in supposing that the principal, if not only purpose, of your journey has direct reference to her?" "You are right," replied Douglas.

"Then, Messire, since I have gathered this from words and looks marked by no one else, and probably unconscious even to yourself, I demand of you credit for more quickness of wit than you would expect to find under a peasant's hood! Now listen. In yonder ruined castle, once a powerful stronghold of the family of Laval, and now not altogether the ruin it might seem to be, the malcontents meet within an hour, for the purpose of receiving certain information from Nantes, and debating on what is to be done in consequence. Their number will be unknown to themselves; and they will repair to the rendezvous at this dead hour, cased in armour, and probably vizor-closed, distrusting even one another, until they absolutely ascertain that it will be prudent or necessary to form the league in contemplation. Go thou too, Sir Knight!-go boldly in among the rest, and observe what is said and done! Having learned this, take what steps may seem wisest to you as a practised soldier for the rescue-if it be necessary- of the damsel. As for me, my part is fulfilled; and if the very worst happen, I shall be able to weep without self-reproach."

What is the worst?" said Douglas, in a constrained whisper—“ "Even if a captive, will she not be in the hands of her own kinsmen, and those who wooed her for their bride?"

"Ask me not! ask me not!" replied the damsel, drawing her hood over her face—“ This is a wild country, and these are fearful times. No matter with whom the damsel may be a captive:-she will find herself in the hands of a brigand, ready to commit any crime that might serve to secure his prize!"

Enough. Yonder ruined turret is the place, scarcely taller than the trees that surround it? But stay-the name which you this morning forbade-"

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Stay not for names. Away, if you be a man!"

"I would but ask, if timely notice given to Orosmandel " but at the word the young woman dived down the steep of the bank; and Douglas, turning away with an exclamation less courteous than was his wont, pursued his road towards the ruin.