When even was come, Hector betook him into the wood, and there he called for the kind fay Beaté, who cometh to all who call her single-hearted and who were born into the world upon May morning. Now Hector had been so born, and, being good and true, she did not deny his call, but appeared unto him. She was a woman wondrous fair, and Hector, when he beheld her, knelt down to do her homage.

'Not so,' she said, 'for my time is short. What list

you

of me, my son, and wherein can I serve you.' Then out spoke Hector, and told her of all that had passed, and how Sir Patinas had overcome the knights, and how he would preserve the honour of the king.

'And I crave of you,' he cried, 'that ye would grant me a boon.'

'Name it,' she said.

'I would that ye tell me wherein lieth this knight's rare strength, and what may vanquish him.'

'It resteth in his inner doublet, under his right arm,' she made reply; 'and you must cut a square inch from out it, and wear it upon you in the encounter.'

Then said Hector,

'Surely ye mock me.',

But she,

'Not so; it is as I have told, and as ye yourself shall prove, if so be ye follow my words.'

Hector wended him away, pondering these words in his mind, for he knew not how he could approach the knight's doublet without his knowledge. Thinking thus he laid himself down under a tree to rest, and slept there till dawn of day. Then he arose, and bent his steps unto the stream, for he wished to bathe therein to gain vigour for the combat.

Scarce had he neared it, when he perceived Sir Patinas disporting in the clear water.

'Ah,' thought Hector, 'now is the time!' and he got him toward the place where the knight's clothes lay, and cut thence, all unperceived, the square mentioned by the fairy. Nor did he stay to examine it more closely, but thrust it into his breast, and walked away once more.

Now when the hour of rencontre was come, King Roderick was passing heavy, but Hector stepped forth boldly, for he trusted in his good cause and in the fay's advice.

And truly, when they came to meet, Sir Patinas' skill was as nought unto the youth. Soon his spear was all to-shivered, and Hector smote him through the shield into his side, so that horse and rider fell down..

Beholding which the youth alighted from his steed and came toward the knight.

'Proclaim thyself vanquished,' said he.

'Thou hast o'ercome me,' said Patinas, and his voice was feeble. 'But I pray thee tell me how that could be, and what charm thou bearest that is greater than mine?'

'None other but thine own,' quoth Hector; and he drew forth the square out of the doublet, and held it towards him. 'But for this, Sir Patinas, I, too, should have been slain through thy evil craft.'

Thereupon Hector, turning towards the king, presented him the square out of the doublet, saying,—

'Take it, my lord, this thing whereby I have conquered. I know not what it contains. Be that for you to discover.'

And the king took it and opened, and behold! the stuff enclosed an agate. Writ beneath its polished surface were the words, 'Who beareth me shall overcome.' Then Roderick returned it to the young squire, saying,—

"This thing is thine, fairly won. Wear it about thee, that thou, too, mayest become invincible.'

'Nay, not so,' he made reply. If by my strength of arm and skill I be unconquerable, it is well; but to resort to charms to me seemeth mean. I would naught of it.'

So, speaking, he flung the agate from him. The king was well pleased with the youth's resolve, and

praised him therefore, and for the service he had done to him he gave him the order of knighthood, whereat Hector rejoiced greatly.

As for Sir Patinas, when he was healed from his fall, he fled the land, and was heard of no more.

IN

castle. It has been inhabited for generations by the heirs of the first duke, Rudolf, who obtained the castle and territory of Rudolfsburg for his valour in battle against the heathens. Ever since the castle has been built, a stork's nest has rested on one of its castellated towers. From time to time it has been repaired by successive generations of storks, while the castle has been enlarged and beautified by successive members of the family. But in each case the old foundations remain.

It was early spring; the storks had just returned from their annual Egyptian tour, when a he-stork, the only surviving member of the old family, and his young bride, retook possession of the ancestral nest.

They immediately set to work to renovate the paternal dwelling, that had suffered much from the severity of the northern winter. Soon it once more