theirs." Then turning to the attendant"I wot not what may be the issue of this encounter, or when we may again meethast thou any provision, poor knave?"

"A quarter of kid and a loaf of buck-wheat, that I bought of a peasant while your knightship was at shrift this morning-poor viands, and all unfit for knightly food. Would I had

the secret of that widow of Zarephath, of whom I have heard monks tell, though the close fathers would never confess in what part of France she sojourned."

"Thou art not then unprovided for; and for myself I reck not," said the knight, dashing his heavy spurs into his steed, and disappearing in a moment. The feelings of the unfortunate squire, distracted between the wish to enjoy his meal undivided, and his terror at being thus suddenly deserted, broke forth in the following exclamations.

"Hear, sir knight, hear me !-in the name of all the saints or all the devils, will you run a tilt against (it may be) a host of spirits that haunt this heath? By the mass, an' I have

not a mind to devour the whole quarter for mere vexation, I am no true squire—and a morsel might refresh me!-Turn back, I say, sir knight," (here his exclamations became evidently fainter)" ah, foul befall thee, losel squire, who pamperest thyself when thy master is in peril!-now the fiend ha' me if I swallow another morsel-save this, to give me strength to cry after him!-Nay, now my mouth is so full, it is in vain to strive-he will never, never," said the squire with a sigh, "return to taste a morsel of it-so it were better briefly to discuss what remains, than leave it, perchance, to be the prey of these accursed heretics."

accost the

While the attendant was thus vociferating gradually in diminuendo, and masticating in crescendo, the knight rode across the heath, and prepared himself to group he was approaching. In spite of the increasing darkness, he could observe, as he drew near them, one of distinguished figure, who by his gestures seemed about to dismiss a numerous body of attendants, and to prepare to ride

alone. There was something awful and even ghostly in the appearance of this shadowy group, who parted at the signal of their leader in perfect 'silence, the deep moss of the heath rendering their horse-tramp scarce distinguishable even amid profound stillness. They divided, part wheeling to the right, part to the left, like broken masses of the heavy evening clouds, and the knight and the stranger were left alone on the heath; the latter still continuing to extend his arm in the direction his band were now faintly seen pursuing.

CHAPTER II.

Ανδρα μοι εννεπε, Μουσα, πολυτροπον.

As Sir Paladour approached the stranger, the latter wrapt himself in the folds of a vast houpland, which covered even the flanks of his horse, and, drawing his barret over his face, seemed wishing to render his person wholly undistinguishable. To the inquiries of the knight, however, he prepared to return an answer; especially when the inquirer added, "Methinks the band of Pelerins of whom I sought my way this morn have shown me aught but the right one."

"So do they with many," said the stranger in a disguised voice, and evidently with a deeper meaning than his words at first seemed to bear -"so do they with many-it is their use; meanwhile, sir crusader, (for such I deem you;).

your courtesy enforces me to teach you what otherwise I might withhold. Your way to the castle of Courtenaye lieth right onward, yet may you hardly reach it by to-morrow's night; and in your way, if I remember me, there is a lake, over which I doubt that you will find bark or boat to waft you at this hour."

"Sir traveller," said the Paladour, "thou knowest, that to place peril in the path of a true knight, is to determine his choice of that path, were a thousand courting him to safety." "There is more than you wot of, perchance," said the traveller. "Men say-I vouch not for the tale that at midnight a female form appears on the lake, and beckons belated travellers to her bark, promising to waft them over with all swiftness and security; but of those who embarked, none within mortal memory ever reached the other side." "Of earthly might I reck not," said the knight after a pause, " and unearthly I defy, having this morn been shriven by a holy recluse who dwelt in a rock, being of the order