able distance from the mark, and then selecting an arrow from her quiver, she fitted it to her bow, and raising the latter in her left hand, drew the string with her right. The gentle animal which she rode stood quietly under her as if aware of what she was about to do, and as she sat with her graceful head slightly thrown back her elbow raised, and her slender wrist curved, as her fingers drew the string, the beauty and symmetry of her figure excited the profound admiration of the spectators, and they awaited in breathless suspense the result of her shot. The bowstring twanged, the arrow whistled through the air, and the next moment stood quivering in the shaft of the spear of Iphitus.

A murmur of applause attested the admiration of the bystanders, and Iphitus riding up to Iothales said to her

"I begin to think, my beautiful Iothales, that it is Diana herself who has chosen this island as her residence, and who has condescended to look with favour on a rude mortal like me."

She blushed and smiled, and replied: "It is but little that we have been able to learn upon this poor island, and it would be hard if we could not attain to some skill in one or two things at least."

"Such skill as you will find it difficult to get matched in the great world outside your little island," replied he; "but it is time that we should push on towards the ground where we expect to find our game." So they went on, beguiling the way with pleasant converse, until they approached the destined spot.

Upon arriving there the work was at once commenced. A number of persons on foot began to spread themselves through the wood, searching carefully for tracks, and restraining the dogs until they had formed a circuit sufficiently large to render it probable that the game was enclosed between them and the edge of the forest. The plan of operations had been devised with a view to the character of the ground. At a short distance in front, the wood ended upon a steep hill side, at the bottom. of which was a ravine, which it was not possible the game could cross. The hill itself was the commencement of a range of cliffs, which rose rugged and barren above a smooth beach. The mounted hunters had emerged from the wood at such a point that they would be able to drive the game along the level beach should the footmen with their dogs succeed in driving him from the wood. The only other avenue of escape which was open to him was through the forest into the interior, and it was to cut off this means of retreat that the footmen now spread themselves in as extended a line as possible through the wood.

Matters being so arranged, the mounted party had nothing to do but to await quietly the result of the operations of the beaters of the bush.

"I think," said Iphitus, after glancing carefully at the extent of beach which lay before them, "we may get better sport here without letting the dogs slip. If we once get a boar upon that smooth beach, our horses and our spears will do the work, or if you and I should prove bunglers, Philokalos, I think the arrow of your sister may be relied on. There will be time enough to loose the dogs, should there seem to be a probability of his finding any escape through some fissure in the cliffs."

"Perhaps you are right," said Philokalos, "although it will be a sore disappointment to Phoebus and Artemis," and he stooped in his saddle to caress the two fine hounds which were held by two attendants in a leash, and which jumped up in extravagant joy at the notice taken of them by their master.

།

"I would have the dogs brought on as quickly as may be, for the best shot sometimes fails," said Iothales to her brother, her cheek glowing with the healthful exercise, and her eye beaming with the excitement of the anticipated sport."

"They will soon make up lost ground,” replied he. "Eh boy! Eh? lass! Down now, down," cried he, as the dogs in an ecstasy of delight began first to whine, and then to break into a loud, sharp bark. "What, are you such young hands as to give tongue before the game breaks cover, and drive him back into the woods.

The sounds that now proceeded from the forest, seemed to indicate that they would not have much longer to wait. The men were shouting, the dogs barking, and the bushes rustling, and these noises appeared both to grow louder and become more and more concentrated in the direction where the hunters were waiting. They reined back their horses, and waited in breathless silence, and with quick ears and restless eyes. At length the sound of the dogs and the rustling of the bushes approached nearer, and presently, with a heavy crash through the underwood, and with a loud snort of mingled anger and terror, a huge boar burst from the cover, and with fiery eyes and bristly mane, rushed out upon the open ground.

One glance from his small quick eyes at the party of hunters, and the next moment he was going at a rapid pace along the beach in the opposite direction, followed by the pack of timid, but noisy curs, who, whenever they got near enough to allow him to make a stroke at them with his tusks, recoiled in confusion, and changed their clamorous barking for a howl of alarm and terror.

Giving the reins to their horses, the hunters galloped forward. The hounds sprang forward impetuously, and were with the utmost difficulty restrained by their keepers, who hurried forward as quickly as they could, with the double object of seeing something of the chase and of letting the hounds go, should there appear a chance of the game escaping.

Iphitus and Philokalos rode on either side of Iothales, and their horses kept pace for pace with her palfrey. They adjusted their speed to that of the boar, taking care that he should not get away from them, and at the same time that they should not gain too much on him at first. At length when the boar had rid himself of the noisy curs which had followed him, and which now gave up the chase from fatigue or fear, Iphitus, looking forward said:

"I see a place yonder where the beach narrows by the side of that straight cliff, and it looks like a good place to stop the boar; but here you see on the right is the spot where my ship lies high and dry, and the boar might easily escape there, for the hills have an easy ascent. I will ride forward to the pass, and on the way I will tell the men who are working at the ship to make a line and stop his way from the beach. In that way he will be between us, and we shall have him at bay.

As he finished speaking, he gave the rein to his horse, and urged him to speed. The noble animal bounded away at a pace which soon left the others behind and gained upon the flying boar. Iphitus made a sweep towards the inland side of the beach, and passing the game, he made his way rapidly towards his vessel. The workmen had left their labour, and were gathered in a knot to see the chase. Iphitus rode up to them

VOL. I.-No. 10.

2 M

and ordering them to form a line which might intimidate the boar from escaping in that direction, he galloped on again to the pass.

When the others saw that Iphitus had gained the pass, Iothales said to her brother: "Now, Philokalos, let me go on and try the effect of my arrows. If they fail, and the game escapes me, he will have to encounter Iphitus in the front, or you in the rear."

"Go then, lothales," said Philokalos, "but I do not think your arrows will leave much to be done either by myself or Iphitus."

He reined in his steed to a slower pace, and Iothales galloped forward. As she went she unstrung her bow, and drew forth an arrow from the quiver. Upon approaching near enough, she raised her bow and drew the string. The arrow stuck in the side of the boar, who swerved from his course with an angry grunt, and the next moment the beautiful huntress passed him as on the wings of the wind, and began to ride round him in circles with a skill and address which excited the wonder of all who saw it. They had now passed the spot where the vessel was lying. The boar had made a desperate effort to gain the inland country, but had been prevented by the men stationed there for that purpose, and he was now rapidly approaching the pass by the cliff. The intention of Iphitus had been to remain at this pass, and to prevent the boar from going through, but on arriving at the spot he found that the cliff was only the commencement of a range, and that at a short distance further the beach ended at the foot of a much higher and steeper rock, beyond which there was no passing. It was indeed the same rock which has been already often mentioned in this tale. Its existence was not unknown to Iphitus, as he had seen it on his landing, but he had not then minutely examined the locality, and was not aware that there was no way beyond the edge of the cliff. Neither were Philokalos or his sister better acquainted with this part of the coast, and as they had constantly ridden in advance of the others, there was no one to correct their misapprehension upon the subject. The sailors, indeed, had told Iphitus that the boar must necessarily be brought to bay at that point, without any interference on his part, but having gone so far he resolved to ride on and see the place for himself. Finding that it was as was represented, he re-mounted his horse, from which he had alighted while examining the ground, and began to ride quietly back to where Iothales was encountering the boar with such skill and address. Iphitus drew in his horse and gazed in mute admiration at the ease and grace with which the maiden was assailing her monstrous antagonist. But suddenly with an exclamation of alarm he urged his steed onward violently, and the noble creature sprang forward with the speed of lightning. He had cause, for Iothales, who but a moment before was careering round the boar with a fearlessness worthy of Diana herself, was now in a position of great and imminent danger. She was in the act of discharging a second arrow at the boar, when her palfrey suddenly stepped over a stone which lay on the beach, and fell. The arrow was just leaving the string, and it still flew straight enough to strike its mark, but instead of entering the body, it pierced the ear of the boar. The infuriated animal rushed at its assailant, and as Iothales rose from the ground she stood unprotected and at the mercy of the enraged beast. But the boar's first attack was at the palfrey, which had risen unharmed by its fall. The mettlesome creature galloped off as if in contempt, and

continued its former circuit, neighing, and apparently wondering why its mistress no longer joined in the sport. The boar next rushed at Iothales with foaming mouth and gnashing tusks. Her terror was extreme and seemed to paralyze her, but a rushing sound was heard, and like a whirlwind the black steed of Iphitus came up, and ere his motion could be arrested his rider had thrown himself off, and had raised his mighty spear to strike the boar. Iothales clasped her hands in thankfulness. In a moment she had passed from a state of hopeless terror to a feeling of calm confidence and security. There was the ferocious monster rushing towards her, his mane bristling, his dreadful tusks gnashing, his eyes darting fire. In a moment he would be on her; but Iothales knew that that moment would suffice to arrest his course; for there, close at hand, stood Iphitus, his feet firmly planted, his arm thrown back, his terrible spear poised, and all his great strength ready to be exerted in her defence. How should she feel other than secure? All this change took place in an instant, From the fierce brute which a moment before had filled her breast with such terrible alarm, Iothales turned her eyes in calm hope and confidence upon her defender, and what was the sight which smote upon her eyes like a thunderbolt, and again paralyzed her with chill terror! Iphitus was still standing in the attitude to strike, but he seemed to have been suddenly turned into stone. Forgetful of the boar, forgetful of his lover, forgetful of everything around him, he stood with his eyes riveted to all appearance upon the opposite cliff, and lost to all surrounding objects. Mechanically the eyes of Iothales followed his; but the imminence of the danger sle was in, and the sudden revulsion of feeling from brief confidence and security to her former terror, proved too much for her, and she sank fainting to the ground.

THE FLEUR-DE-LIS AT PORT ROYAL,

AN EPISODE IN HUGUENOT HISTORY,

In the year 1562 a cloud of black and deadly portent was thickening over France. Surely and swiftly she glided towards the abyss of the religious wars. None could pierce the future; perhaps none dared to contemplate it: the wild rage of fanaticism and hate, friend grapling with friend, brother with brother, father with son; altars profaned, hearth-stones made desolate; the robes of Justice herself bedrenched with murder. In the gloom without lay Spain, imminent and terrible. As on the hills by the field of Dreux, her veteran bands of pikemen, dark masses of organised ferocity, stood biding their time while the battle surged below, then swept downward to the slaughter,-so did Spain watch and wait to trample and crush the hope of humanity.

In these days of fear, a Huguenot colony sailed for a New World. The calm, stern man who represented and led the Protestantism of France felt to his inmost heart the peril of the time. He would fain build up a city of refuge for the persecuted sect. Yet Gaspar de Coligny, too high in power to be openly assailed, was forced to act with caution. He must act, too, in the name of the Crown, and in virtue of his office of Admiral of France. A nobleman and soldier,-for the Admiral of France was no seamen,-he shared the ideas and habits of his class; nor is there reason to believe him to have been in advance of others of his time in a knowledge of the principles of successful colonization. His scheme promised a military colony, not a free commonwealth. The Huguenot party was already a political as well as a religious party. At its foundation lay the religious element, represented by Geneva, the martyrs, and the devoted fugitives who sang the psalms of Marot among rocks and caverns. Joined to these were numbers on whom the faith sat lightly, whose hope was in commotion and change. Of these, in great part, was the Huguenot noblesse, from Conde, who aspired to the Crown,

Ce petit homme tant joli,

Qui toujours chante, toujours rit,

to the younger son of the impoverished seigneur whose patrimony was his sword. More than this, the restless, the factious, the discontented began to link their fortunes to a party whose triumph would involve confiscation of the bloated wealth of the only rich class in France. element of the great revolution was already mingling in the strife of religions.

An

America was still a land of wonder. The ancient spell still hung unbroken over the wide, vast world of mystery beyond the sea. A land of

romance, of adventure, of gold.

Fifty-eight years later, the Puritans landed on the sands of Massachusetts Bay. The illusion was gone,-the ignis fatuus of adventure, the dream of wealth. The rugged wilderness offered only a stern and hard