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will fight with thee!" "I have a life to spare ciferated Karadan: "Do I not know thy wickedness against the mother of Iarine ? Art thou not in my power? Glandreth approached Karadan, who was trembling with passion, and bending down his hand, which held the sword with a mighty grasp, he pointed to the sky, while, in deep low tones, he murmured, "Rash Karadan, look yonder! Hast thou forgotten that form?" Phantasmion and the son of Magnart both raised their eyes to the sky, and beheld the dim outline of a winged figure, with the hand outstretched, and pointing to Karadan, while from that outstretched hand lightnings appeared to radiate in quivering lines along the starry vault, at the same time a shuddering passed across the lake, and over all the woods in which it was embosomed. Like a stranded vessel, that, after tossing in violent agitation, runs aground upon rocks, Karadan sank silently to the earth, Iarine covered her face with her hands, and even Phantasmion's heart was chilled with fear. He still gazed upward, and observed the form grow fainter and fainter, till it finally vanished; Karadan, too raised his drooping head, and saw Glandreth seize both hands of the fair princess, and smile triumphantly in her face. Then, forgetting everything but vengeance, he sprang to his feet, and dashed the silver pitcher against the forehead of the insulting chieftain: at that same moment the Isle resounded, and all the distant hills re-echoed the tremendous roar of the magical drum, during the reverberations of which, Phantasmion leaped forward, full of life, hope, and energy, feeling ready to encounter a world in arms.

Glandreth, stunned by the blow, but far more over

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powered by the terrific sounds, which he believed to be the heralds of his death, lay motionless on the shore, his face streaming with blood. The dark youth gazed in perturbation upon the young king of Palmland. "Sorcerer!" at length he exclaimed, "wilt thou come betwixt me and my foe with spells and witcheries?" "I am no sorcerer!" cried Phantasmion, glowing with indignation; "but it is the most fiendish of all that practice sorcery in whom thou puttest thy trust! How speaks the Record betwixt Seshelma and Karadan, son of Magnart?" " How came that Record into thy hands, thou robber?" Karadan retorted-"Didst thou not attempt to steal this vessel which I purchased with my own gold?" "Thou shalt purchase it with steel as well as with gold,” cried Phantasmion, drawing his sword, "come on, there is light enough here to fight by." Karadan flung the pitcher into the boat, and beckoned his antagonist to a firm space of smooth turf, clear from trees; there they fought in the moonlight, guiding their weapons with deadly resolution,-Phantasmion inspired by hope as well as love and courage, Karadan with no ally to second those feelings but despair. The calm lake reflected their bright blades, hard by the image of the waning moon, which lay motionless on its bosom. Iarine fled to the castle, and soon the combatants heard earnest voices and hurrying footsteps of persons who came to separate them. Both paused at once. "Let us meet again!" cried Phantasmion; here is my pledge!" and throwing his mantle, which lay upon the ground, on the arm of Karadan, he plunged into the depths of the wood, while his adversary leaped into the boat, made it skim round the Island, and was

out of sight from that part of the shore when the armed men reached it. The soldiers sought about, and found no one but Glandreth, who was just roused from his swoon, and sat upright, gazing around him with bloodstained face and looks of bewildered fury.

CHAPTER XIX.

GLANDRETH IS MORE THAN EVER AMAZED AND DISCOMFITED BY THE NOISE OF THE MAGIC DRUM.

PHANTASMION Stole away through the woods till he came into the midst of a jovial company who were carousing in the open air. These were the pages and other servants of the royal household; they had heard the awful voice of the gong, and were making haste to drown their fears in wine. The mighty general," they cried, "who dreams only of war and conquest, how sober he looked at that spirit-quelling sound!' "Did ye mark," said one, "how Queen Maudra started from her chair; there was little sobriety in her demeanour, I trow." "Now I warrant," cried a saucy page, after having renewed his courage with a deep draught, "while she is planting arbours, entwined with passion flowers and jessamine, wherein to enjoy the converse of Glandreth, when Albinian lies low, he has been looking out for a stronghold on the frontiers, where he may keep her under garrison as far from his palace of pleasure as possible." "One good thing will come to pass in those days," cried another; "Iarine will be queen instead of Maudra." "Hurra! hurra!" shouted the revellers : "The moon shall be queen in heaven, and bright Iarine upon earth." "Hush, hush!" ejaculated an old wine bibber, who was lying under the rose bushes, “let the

moon hear nothing about it yet, nor Maudra either, but mark my words,"-here a burst of merriment drowned his sage discourse, but when the uproar had subsided he raised his flushed face among the pure cool roses, and stammered out, "Depend on it that young Iarine would rather drink the waters of the sea than marry that wicked miner and underminer, who caused Anthemmina to drink them." "When Albinian dies," cried a sprightly page, "the heads of the land shall all be young and handsome. None but a fit spouse for Iarine shall be our king." The revellers cast their eyes on Phantasmion. "Come," said one, "take this fine. fellow, pour some royal blood into his veins, and he shall be the man." Thereupon they crowded round the prince, placed a chaplet on his brow, and made him drink out of many a sparkling bowl, till he caught their spirit, and joined them in a blithe chorus after this

sort :

Ne'er ask where knaves are mining,
While the nectar plants are twining:
To pull up the vine

They never incline,

With all their deep designing.

O, ne'er for the dead sit weeping,

Their graves the dews are steeping ;

And founts of mirth

Spring up from the earth,

Where they are at peace and sleeping.

Away with studious learning,

When heaven's bright lamps are burning:

In the glorious art

That gladdens the heart,

We cannot be more discerning.