and whether it were a crocodile or a serpent is uncertain. There is a reason to think that the monsters of early creation were slow in becoming extinct, or it is not impossible that either a crocodile or a python might have been brought over by storms or currents from Africa, and have grown to a more formidable size than usual in solitude among the marshes, while the island was changing owners. The reptile, whatever it might be, was the object of extreme dread; it devoured sheep and cattle, when they came down to the water, and even young shepherd-boys were missing. And the pilgrimage to the chapel of St. Stephen, on the hill above its lair, was especially a service of danger, for pilgrims were believed to be snapped up by the dragon before they could mount the hill.

Several knights had gone out to attempt the destruction of the creature, but not one had returned, and at last the Grand Master, Helion de Villeneuve, forbade any further attacks to be made. The dragon is said to have been covered with scales that were perfectly impenetrable either to arrows or any cutting weapon; and the severe loss that encounters with him had cost the Order, convinced the Grand Master that he must be let alone.

However, a young knight, named Dieudonné de Gozon, was by no means willing to acquiesce in the decree; perhaps all the less because it came after he had once gone out in quest of the monster, but had returned, by his own confession, without striking a blow. He requested leave of absence, and

went home for a time to his father's castle of Gozon, in Languedoc; and there he caused a model of the

monster to be made. He had observed that the scales did not protect the animal's belly, though it was almost impossible to get a blow at it, owing to its tremendous teeth and the furious strokes of its length of tail. He therefore caused this part of his model to be made hollow, and filled with food, and obtaining two fierce young mastiffs, he trained them to fly at the underside of the monster, while he mounted his war-horse, and endeavored to accustom it to attack the strange shape without swerving.

When he thought the education of horse and dogs complete, he returned to Rhodes; but fearing to be prevented from carrying out his design, he did not land at the city, but on a remote part of the coast, whence he made his way to the chapel of St. Stephen. There, after having recommended himself to God, he left his two French squires, desiring them to return home if he were slain, but to watch and come to him if he killed the dragon, or were only hurt by it. He then rode down the hill-side, and towards the haunt of the dragon. It roused itself at his advance, and at first he charged it with his lance, which was perfectly useless against the scales. His horse was quick to perceive the difference between the true and the false monster, and started back, so that he was forced to leap to the ground; but the two dogs were more stanch, and sprang at the animal, whilst their master struck at it with his sword, but still without reaching a vulnerable part, and a blow from the tail had thrown him down, and the dragon was turning upon him, when the movement left the undefended belly exposed. Both mastiffs fastened on it at once, and the knight,

regaining his feet, thrust his sword into it. There was a death grapple, and finally, the servants coming down the hill, found their knight lying apparently dead under the carcass of the dragon. When they had extricated him, taken off his helmet, and sprinkled him with water, he recovered, and presently was led into the city amid the ecstatic shouts of the whole populace, who conducted him in triumph to the palace of the Grand Master.

We borrow Schiller's beautiful version of the conversation that took place, as the young knight, pale, with his black mantle rent, his shining armor dented, his scarlet surcoat stained with blood, came into the Knights' Great Hall.

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"Severe and grave was the master's brow,
Quoth he, A hero bold art thou,

By valor 'tis that knights are known ;
A valiant spirit hast thou shown;
But the first duty of a knight,

Now tell, who vows for CHRIST to fight
And bears the Cross on his coat of mail.'
The listeners all with fear grew pale,
While, bending lowly, spake the knight,
His cheeks with blushes burning,

He who the Cross would bear aright
Obedience must be learning.'

Even after hearing the account of the conflict, the Grand Master did not abate his displeasure.

A deadlier foe thine heart has bred
Than that which by thy hand is dead,
A serpent still the heart defiling
To ruin and to strife beguiling.
It is that spirit rash and bold,
That scorns the bands of order;
Rages against them uncontrolled
Till earth is in disorder.

"Courage by Saracens is shown,
Submission is the Christian's own;
And where our Savior, high and holy,
Wandered a pilgrim poor and lowly
Upon that ground with mystery fraught,
The fathers of our Order taught
The duty hardest to fulfill

Is to give up our own self-will —
Thou art elate with glory vain.

Away then from my sight!
Who can his Savior's yoke disdain,
Bears not his cross aright.'

"An angry cry burst from the crowd,
The hall rang with their tumult loud;
Each knightly brother prayed for grace,
The victor downward bent his face,
Aside his cloak in silence laid,

Kissed the Grand Master's hand, nor stayed.
The master watched him from the hall,
Then summoned him with loving call,
'Come to embrace me, noble son,

Thine is the conquest of the soul;

Take up the cross, now truly won,

By meekness and by self-control.””

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The probation of Dieudonné is said to have been somewhat longer than the poem represents, but after the claims of discipline had been established, he became a great favorite with stern old Villeneuve, and the dragon's head was set up over the gate of the city, where Thèvenot professed to have seen it in the seventeenth century, and said that it was larger than that of a horse, with a huge mouth and teeth and very large eyes. The name of Rhodes is said to come from a Phoenician word, meaning serpent, and the Greeks called this the isle of serpents, which is all in favor of the truth of the story.

I met a little cottage Girl:

She was eight years old, she said;
Her hair was thick with many a curl
That clustered round her head.