e of trumpets shivering
Above the reeling fight,
Proves the inhuman challenge--
The warrior's right?

"Son of thoughtful Science,
Unthinking of renown,
Is thine the name to thunder
The ages down?"

"Hist!" he said, interrupting the song. "What is it I see gliding in
yonder thicket? Stand fast, Master Arundel, while I go forward to
reconnoitre."

The young man would have accompanied him, but this Sir Christopher
imperatively forbade. "Thou art under my lead and protection," he
said, "and foul shame were it, should I expose thee to a danger which
I should face myself alone;" and in spite of his urgency, Arundel was
obliged to remain behind.

The Knight was gone, perhaps, a quarter of an hour, and Arundel began
to be anxious at the length of his absence, and had stepped forward a
few rods to seek him, when he made his appearance.

"If it were a wild beast, or anything that could harm us," he cried,
as he approached, "it has glided off into the bushes."

"Then shall I entreat the continuance of thy song. I would like to
hear resolved the question which it pleases the poet to ask."

"I care not to sing more now," returned the Knight. "My voice, I
perceive, begins to roughen, and brawls along more like a shallow
brook, over pebbles, than the flow of a deep, equable stream, It were
to shame the brave words."

This determination Arundel was unable to alter, and he could not avoid
ascribing it quite as much to a change of opinion in his companion,
respecting the prudence of singing in that wild region, as to any
assumed roughness of voice. Thinking thus, he unslung his gun, and
examined carefully the priming, holding himself in readiness for any
emergency. He noticed, however, to his surprise that no such
precautions were adopted by Sir Christopher, who, though in silence,
walked with as fearless a step as ever, and allowed his piece to
remain upon his back.

The shades of evening were now beginning to wrap objects in obscurity,
and it became necessary to look out for a place of rest. In finding
one fitted for the purpose, the Knight betrayed no embarrassment.

"There should be," he said, "a small cave in the neighborhood, wherein
we may be sheltered. I will lead thee thither in a short time."

Accordingly, they descended the side of a pretty steep declivity, and,
at the bottom, forming a sort of miniature valley, found the object of
their search. It was certainlyf