deep attention; Glandreth pointed to the sky, and Magnart seemed more bent on watching the appearances there than on surveying the ground and the enemy's array of battle. The aspect of that well-accoutred host, reflecting a bright sun from burnished arinour, was indeed an unwelcome surprise to the mighty general; and, though his own was still more numerous, he could not hope to surround and overpower his opponents with multitudes of horse, by reason of their having secured so advantageous a position. Nevertheless, Glandreth was free from even a shadow of dread, and beheld the furious onset of his foes, when the battle began, without concern; for it was not in sword and buckler, nor in stout hands and hearts, that he reposed his trust; he had summoned other powers to his aid, and a dark massy cloud which followed his course, or paused with him, right over his head, while the cope of heaven around was crystal clear, assured him of victory.

Phantasmion saw that cloud and his heart was troubled; seen indeed it must needs have been by every one present, but he of all the assembled multitude alone surmised that it was aught more than a collection of vapours, he alone imagined that it contained such an ally of Glandreth as no mortal power might withstand. Perplexing conjectures engrossed his mind; he thought of Oloola's doubtful conduct at former junctures; he strove to think that she was no real enemy to his cause; he believed that Anthemmina's dying day was long since passed; yet why did that black cloud continue to hover above the head of Glandreth, and what did it portend? While the other chiefs, animated with the most confident hopes, were performing feats of valour, Phantas

mion's brow was overcast, and, for a little while, the buoyancy and ardour of his temperament appeared to have forsaken him.

Soon, however, the young monarch roused himself from anxious speculation, and led on the troops with all his wonted energy. Phantasmion eagerly desired to encounter Glandreth; but lo! the chieftain, conspicuous by his long white plume and lofty stature, resigns the command to Magnart, who leads the vanguard, and, retiring from the fight, ascends a bare rock, just apart from the conflict, whence he obtains a full view of the hills above and of the plain beneath. Triumphantly from that eminence he cast his eyes around, having reason to believe that, in a few moments, every object he beheld would be absolutely subjected to his power. Below where he stood were the contending armies, the flashing of armour, the tramp of horses, the clang of sword and shield. On the green hill side he observed the numerous sheep and herds which now belonged to his adversaries with scarce perceptible motion they were stealing onward, while ever and anon their conductors turned about to look upon the field of combat.

Part of the flocks had already disappeared, having wound their way into a rocky gorge, while the rest were following. Glandreth's heart swelled with scornful exultation as he looked upon them. "Now," thought he, "ere those flocks are out of sight the plunderers shall have felt my power; at one stroke I will change the scene, and my enemies shall be crushed for ever." At this moment success appeared inclining toward the less numerous army; Magnart had fallen by the hand of Phantasmion, and his body was trampled

under foot by the throng; Penselimer, with his heavy armed troops, powerfully supported the Gemmaurian cavalry; and the archers placed behind the fir trees, like a herd of armed deer, came rushing down to attack the enemy in flank. Glandreth beheld Phantasmion, after he had given Magnart his death-blow, pressing onwards and striving to win his way to the place where he stood. Then he lifted up his glittering blade and shouted, "Come on, Phantasmion !" The rocks were still resounding that cry, when a far different echo came from the cloud over his head. "Phantasmion !—Phantasmion!-Come on, Phantasmion!" was uttered from above in a tone more shrill and piercing than that of the chieftain, more like the sound of the wind than that of any human voice; it prevailed over the din of battle; every ear heard it; every eye was fixed on the black mass, and every weapon was suspended. But the dense, pitchy cloud remained unchanged and motionless, and had a preternatural appearance alone in the pure blue sky.

Phantasmion gazed at it, as he listened with awe but not with terror to that aerial challenge; an eye of intense light now became visible in the centre of the darkness; it grew and spread till he seemed for a moment to perceive the indistinct lineaments of a dazzling face, and at the same time a hand glanced forth and beckoned him. Feelings akin to frenzy possessed the young warrior at that sight; he resolved to know his fate, and not to die without having essayed at least to punish the iniquitous transgressor; he spurred his horse, and began to drive right onward through the ranks, which made way before him. Then once more

Glandreth raised his sword, and pointed to Phantasmion, while he cast up his face to the sky, and called upon Oloola. The call was heard; a gush of lightning burst from the cloud, quivered adown the uplifted blade, and clothed, as with a robe of fire, the mailed body of Glandreth. A moment he stood enveloped in flames; the blasted corse then tumbled from the rock, and, just as Phantasmion arrived, rolled down at the feet of his

courser.

No noisy peal followed this vengeful lightning; no cry was uttered at the fall of Glandreth; silence was in the sky, amid the mountains, and on the motionless lake, and the armed multitudes, lately engaged in the turmoil of conflict, were still as the stones and rocks. Arrow-shaped particles of innocuous flame were diffused around; each combatant beheld them gliding over the polished helm and breastplate of his neighbour, and all fell terror-stricken with their faces to the earth. Phantasmion alone was exempted from the blinding glare; silent, yet calm, he sate on his unmoving steed, which hung his head, and like all living things around, seemed stupified with amazement. Unappalled he sate, his head thrown back to gaze on the dark cloud, which slowly ascended and gradually brightened, as if some luminous body within were eating away its coal-black shroud. That shroud became thinner and thinner, revealing more and more of a winged form, till at last, when it was perfectly transparent, the floating locks and outspread pinions of Oloola, ere she disappeared in the upper sky, were dimly visible.

CHAPTER XLIII.

ANTHEMMINA DIES IN THE PRESENCE OF IARINE AND PHANTASMION.

PHANTASMION was still gazing upward, when he discerned in the sky that angelic vision which first made him long to soar aloft; at the same time a well known voice whispered in his ear, "Come, and find Iarine." Then he felt himself enabled to quit the earth, and, rising buoyantly into the air, pursued Iarine's image over hill and dale. But when at last the apparition melted away, he saw his guardian Fairy flitting on before him; swiftly they traversed the Land of Rocks, passed the Diamanthine Palace, and flew above the waves till they descried an empty vessel drifting about at random. Phantasmion followed Potentilla when she entered the skiff, and no sooner had they alighted on the deck than the pinions of both disappeared, and the Fairy, sitting at the helm, appeared like some ancient pilot. "In this boat," she said, "Karadan conducted Iarine to the place of her mother's exile in this boat thou shalt bear Iarine away, but death alone can release Anthemmina.” The Fairy then disclosed what Oloola's power had long forced her to conceal, how Albinian's first queen had been tempted by Glandreth, how she came to the Lost Land which was cut off from the neighbour countries by an impassable marsh, and shunned by seafarers on