for now?"

"If you've got a bit of something to eat in your basket, for pity's sake
let me have it, for I'm famished; and if you can get the old thing out of
that there pipe you're welcome to her for your trouble," said Tom
sullenly, for he felt small at giving in to his enemy after all.

"I've got a beautiful new kettle loaf in my basket, Tom; take it and
welcome, do."

Tom seized the loaf and began to eat ravenously. "Thank 'ee," said he,
pretending to smile. "I think I've got the best of that bargain,
for anyway I've got a good loaf, and it'll take more than you to get out
my old pig!"

"Ha, ha!" laughed Madge Figgy, "I'm glad you are pleased, Tom, ha, ha!
refused five shillings, and took a twopenny loaf! I'm pleased with my
share of the bargain, and I'm glad you are." Then turning towards the pig
she called softly, "Chug! chug! chug! Come on, chug! chug! chug!"

Out walked the old sow at once, and going up to the witch, she trotted
away down the road after her as tamely as a dog.

THE STORY OF SIR TRISTRAM AND LA BELLE ISEULT.

Long, long ago, when Arthur was King of England, and King Mark was King of
Cornwall,--for there were many petty kings, who held their lands under
King Arthur,--there was born in Lyonesse a little boy, a king's son.

Instead, though, of there being great joy and rejoicing at the birth of
the little heir, sorrow reigned throughout Lyonesse, for his father, King
Melodias, had been stolen away by enchantment, no one knew where.
Nor could anyone tell how to release him, and the heartbroken queen was
dying of grief, for she loved her husband very dearly.

When she saw her little son her tears fell fast on his baby face.
"Call him Tristram," she said, "for he was born in sorrow," and as she
spoke she fell back dead.

Little Tristram wailed right lustily, as though he fully realized his
orphan state, and wept with pity for his own sad fate; and good cause he
had to wail, too, poor little man, had he but known it, for already the
greedy barons had cast their eyes on his land, longing to possess it and
rule it. With only a baby boy standing between them and it, their way was
easy enough. His death could easily be accomplished.

Fortunately, though, for him, and everyone else in the land, King Melodias
was just then released from enchantment by Merlin the wizard, and came
hurrying joyfully to his home, to embrace his beloved wife. Great was his
grief when he found that she was