to bound across, and chastise what he deemed the insolence of the sentry.

"Hearken, friend boaster," answered the soldier, we have more than enow in this small

place already, and it may be that your intruding hither, at this time, might be of more consequence to yourselves, than the value of refreshment would be found either to you or your steeds. Take my advice and journey further."

Now, by the true Lord!" said the earl, "thou hast decided for me in this matter. And, albeit, I might spare thy scanty stores, yet will I make myself acquainted with the danger of which you hint, before we separate. Once more I bid thee lower the bridge, or, by the thunder of God! I will clear the ditch and cleave asunder thy skull."

"Go thy way, mighty skull-cleaver!" replied the soldier tauntingly. "I tell thee, my fine King Arthur, that thine insolence will save us thy share of the feast, and that all you will obtain will be a sight of the spit, and, mayhap, a taste to boot, unless you are speedily gone; I will lower no bridge to a braggart." So saying, the soldier fixed one end of his spear in the bank, and held the point in a line with that of

the horse's chest, should the rider fulfil his threat and leap the moat.

Scarcely had the soldier put himself in a defensive posture, and his companion brought down his spear with the same intent, before the young knight dashed the spurs into his steed, and accomplished what the earl himself was preparing to achieve; for he cleared the narrow moat at a bound, and struck off the spear-head with a single blow of his sword; and, in another moment, the blade was at the throat of the other sentry, who fell on the bank, and offered no resistance.

Before the earl had time to follow his companion, an old woman had issued from a low doorway, which led into an angle of the building she bore in her arms a vessel hooped with wood, the contents of which she was about to pour into a large stone trough, beside which several portly swine wallowed and stretched themselves, in all the indolence of piggish

ease.

"God-a-mercy, and Mary Mother be our shield!" exclaimed the old dame, dropping her pail on the head of one of the swine as she spoke; and retracing her steps to the doorway,

which she held ajar, while she thus continued her comments

"God-a-mercy! be ye Christian men, that point your swords at one another? or are ye savage Saracens, come to shed human blood? Might ye not as well try your swords on the throats of the swine? they will just yield as much blood; and if ye are misbelieving Jews, sure ye will be ridding yourselves of an abomination, and they will do as well to cure and eat after, while, in very truth, we can do naught with dead men."

"We are neither Jews, nor Saracens, worthy dame!" said the knight, lowering the narrow draw-bridge as he spoke, that the earl might pass; we did but crave some refreshment from these over-fed knaves, having kept our saddles since sun-rise, and as thou mayest guess, lost nothing of our appetites; but they, a murrain on them! refused to lower the bridge."

"Ah, marry!" quoth the old housewife, "then it is time for the dame to be budging, if the like of them begin to set up for masters, and to say who shall go, and who come. By St. Withold! I am now cursed with more than a score of them, and if they bide a week longer

my rafters will be as clear of bacon, as a priest's heart is of self-denial over a flask and pasty. And to deny such knights as you seem to boot, by my troth! I would give cup and crust to the greatest impostor that ever bore crook, cockle-shell, and sandal, although some scores of them have never been out of sight of a green tree, or out of smell of an English hearth; and yet, beshrew them! when they get hold of a cup of humming ale, they talk sweetly about the Saracens. But pardon me, gentles; I am gossipping here when I had more need be setting forth my homely fare to quell your fasting. For, as father Philip saith, hunger is a fiend that taketh as much subduing as our evil thoughts, and needeth great support, lest the mind should dwell too long in anticipation of the food which perisheth; I pray you alight and refresh yourselves."

"Methinks, honest dame!" said the soldier, who had arisen, and seemed in no wise inclined to oppose his strength any further against the knights; "methinks, you would be acting wisely to acquaint our leader, that two strangers are without, before you venture to conduct them over the threshold; for, believe me, you will

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get but small thanks for your trouble, should they become acquainted with what he would fain keep secret."

"And I also think, my brave broken spear!" answered the old woman, with an air of triumph, "that the leader you wot of, would be sparing of his compliments to your prowess, when he found that a brave knight had regained our strong hold without the aid of bridge, and in the very teeth of two spearmen. And, furthermore, my bold defender, I can tell thee, that I never yet had to ask permission, as to who should come and be seated at my board. My goodman, is no Theow, that I need to crave admittance for a guest. If thy leader liketh not my ways, he can journey further, and take the whole pack of you; for, by Holy Mary! ye are not worth a cup of beer-wort, excepting to guzzle and swill, like a herd of famished swine returning from the forest without mast."

"No matter, dame!" said the earl, "should this leader you speak of, begrudge us a share of that hospitality of which he is himself so largely partaking, we can but set him down for a churl, and cudgel him into courtesy."

"He hath other matters on hand at this mo