closely attended, and I have brought thee, hoping that thy woman's wit may effect more than all our dull brains have yet accomplished." As the captive prince, sick with hope deferred, languidly mounted his horse and rode forth upon his monotonous round, he was surprised by the appearance of a saucy-look-ing page, who mingled carelessly among the attendants, and challenged the younger squires to test the speed of their horses. • " And who art thou, pert boy ?" inquired the captain of the guard. "Who but the squire to my Lord de Mortimer? Thou must be learned in heraldry an thou knowest not the de-vice of the noble earl," replied the page, with an air of nonchalance that easily satisfied his interrogator, and eager of sport the whole party joined in the race. They were thus led far beyond their usual limits. But the prince, whose heart was sad, evinced little interest in the anima-ted scene till the page, loudly entreating him to put his steed to the mettle, found opportunity at intervals to whis-per, " To-morrow when the horses of the guards are blown, seek the copse by the Hazel Glen." As if disgusted with the familiarity of the page, the prince slowly turned away, but not till he had exchanged a glance of intelligence with his new friend. The following morning the gallant Sir Launfal stood in the copse holding the reins of his own palfrey, and the steed of Lady Mortimer, till he was faint and weary. The expected hour for Edward's arrival had long passed, and notwithstanding his effort to appear the brave squire he personated, it must be confessed he felt very like a timid girl, whose active imagination peopled the wood with a thousand unknown dangers. He turned the whistle nerv-ously in his fingers, and almost essayed to try its magic powers in summoning around him the brave outlaws who waited his bidding, when the welcome sound of advancing hoofs reassured him, and a moment after the prince dashed into the thicket. 372 HEROINES OF THE CRUSADES.