shield, for so expert was the earl that he pushed it forward to receive every blow which was aimed at himself. At length De Lacy struck with all his force at the constable's helmet, such a blow as brought the mailed baron to the floor, while the earl's sword broke asunder within a few inches of the hilt.

A rush was instantly made by the constable's followers to pick up their fallen leader, and fortunate was it for Chester that they came to his aid, just as the earl was uplifting the oaken plank with both hands, and about to deal a blow, which would have crushed him in the armour, in which he was encased like a snail in its shell. The end of the plank, however, came in contact with one of Chester's followers, who seeing the danger, had thrown himself before his leader, and paid the penalty of death for his bravery.

Like a pack of retreating curs before a baited bull, which has broken from the stake,did the constable's followers fly before the rude but terrible weapon which the earl brandished, and during the moment of their retreat allowed him time to pick up the heavy battle-axe which had fallen from their leader's grasp when he was struck

down. But they fled only for a moment, like the ocean waves retreating from the shore, but to return again with greater force. Some there were, too, taking the hint from their leader, (who had recovered the momentary shock, which had but stunned him for an instant,) entered the door in the passage, and went round to the apartment from which the knights had forced their way to the rescue of Edith.

They were now beset both front and rear; and while the earl defended the entrance of the passage, Gloomglendell disputed the barrier formed by the piled ruins of the oaken partition and the massy table. But this could not last long; for the assailants, having seen the advantage which the earl possessed over them by his oaken weapon, betook themselves to the same mode of attack, and were speedily armed with beams and rafters, and other portions of the same materials, from some of which projected huge rusty nails and wooden pins.

Great was the skill which Gloomgendell displayed, in defending himself against his numerous assailants, as he parried one blow with the ponderous beam which he wielded, or sprung back to avoid another, and, while retreating,

taking aim at the same time for the next stroke he intended to deal.

Three or four of his opponents had succeeded, by this time, in making their way over the broken wood-work, and he had now enough to do in keeping them from within reach of Edith. One of them was bold enough to make a rush at the alarmed maiden, as she stood swaying herself to and fro in an attitude of sorrow, or lifting up her hands and eyes imploringly to heaven; but the watchful eye of Gloomglendell caught the motion, and he struck down the extended arms of the soldier, just as he was about to seize her, with such force, that they drooped stunned and useless by his side. The other three still maintained their ground, nor could the brave lover do more than defend himself against their attacks; for others were on the floor of the apartment, and about to bear off the maiden.

"To the rescue! to the rescue of Edith, noble earl!" shouted her lover; for De Lacy still maintained the pass of the doorway, as there were still several soldiers defending the passage, where he swung the terrible battle-axe before his enemies, nor yielded a foot of the floor, which

was already slippery with the blood he had spilt.

To step a few paces forward, and drive his assailants to the extremity of the passage, then suddenly close the door in the face of his foes, was scarcely the work of a moment; and, in another instant, he struck down two tall warriors, who were bearing away Edith. The rest fled, and left the knights for a short space sole possessors of the room; together with Edith, who lay as if lifeless upon the floor.

But this lasted not long; for the door was again forced open, and the Constable of Chester, with ten of his followers, rushed in, and ranged themselves along the end of the apartment. The knights exchanged a brief glance with each other, like men who see that their fate is hopeless.

Just then a horn was heard from without, blown with such force, that its doubling clamour rang through every room of the building; a loud shout, as if from many voices, next followed; and, in another instant, Robin Hood and his brave yeomen entered the apartment.

Not a blow was struck by either the constable or his followers, so astounded were they

by the sudden entrance of such formidable numbers; for the outlaws drew up in triple columns before Chester's soldiers, and Walter-the-onehanded stood front to front with the constable, grasping the battle-axe which he had taken from De Marchmont at the field of Reeds.

A thousand contending feelings seemed to struggle together for expression in the constable's countenance, which quailed again beneath the fixed glance of the outlaw chief. As yet no one had spoken a word: the loud shout which the merry foresters had raised, on entering the apartments, had died away, and Edith stood leaning on the shoulder of her lover, and shedding tears of joy. The Earl of Eltham rested himself against a broken joist; while the heaving of his broad chest, and the perspiration which was gathered on his brow, showed that his giant-strength had been put to its severest

test.

At the entrance of the passage, and beside the shattered remains of the oaken partition, lay the bodies of those who had fallen in the struggle. Over one of these bent Druth, leaning upon his club; and, from his position, one