r bystanders.

"Why is it you want to know, Mother?" he asked, careful not to give a
hurried answer, though he bowed politely.

The old woman, who was in reality a good fairy, replied, "Because I have
come here to do some good; but while a scene of mortal strife is taking
place I cannot employ my power."

Then Murdoch told her all he knew about the matter; whereon she advised
him to hurry to his master when the present combat should be over, and
to bid him declare his belief that the account was true, and to offer to
bring the Princesses forth in their proper shapes.

Meantime the combat between the Scottish Champion and the Black Knight
continued with unabated fury. Any advantage gained by one was foiled by
the other, till at length Saint Andrew, uttering his battle-cry, struck
so mighty a blow with his battle-axe, that he clave the Georgian's
burgonet, and his head beneath, from his crown to his shoulders, and his
body fell lifeless on the ground.

This so enraged the King that he would have ordered the Scottish Knight
to have been slain, when Murdoch rushed forward and gave the fairy's
message.

The Champion spoke as she had directed, when the King, who was of a
placable disposition, though somewhat hasty, consented to his request.

"Swear, most noble King, upon my sword, that you will not attempt any
foul treachery to me or my follower, on account of the Champion I have
slain, until I have accomplished the task I have now undertaken."

On this the old King, descending from his throne, bent over the gallant
Saint Andrew's sword, and swore as he desired.

The Knight entered the castle, and repaired to the garden, when, instead
of finding an ugly old woman, he beheld a lady of radiant beauty, for
such was indeed the Fairy.

"You see yonder six swans," said she; "as they approach strike boldly
with your sword six strokes, nor fear the consequences."

The Knight stood by the side of the crystal lake, and as he stood, his
glittering falchion in his hand, the six swans swam gracefully up. Six
times he struck, and each time the head of one of the swans flew up; but
in its stead appeared, wonderful to relate, a beautiful maiden, whom the
Knight handed with true courtesy off her liquid pedestal on to dry land.
Thus, in a few minutes, the Champion was surrounded by six of the most
lovely damsels the world ever saw, habited in green hunting-suits, each
almost equal to Diana herself, going forth armed for the chase