t right and justice were on
the Champion's side.

Monuments were built and churches erected to his memory, and he was ever
after reverenced as the Patron Saint of France and of all Frenchmen.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.

THE DEATH OF SAINT JAMES.

Saint James, as long as his arm could wield a lance, continued his
heroic combats with pagans and infidels of all sorts, magicians and
necromancers, giants and ogres, wild beasts and evil spirits of every
kind, sort, and description; but he, at length, too, finding his
strength departing, and his hair growing grey, resolved to return home.
One day, however, as he was about to put on his armour, to ride forth as
usual, he discovered that he could scarcely lift it.

"The time has come, my faithful Pedrillo, when no longer as a steel-clad
knight, but as a humble pilgrim, I must wander through the world," he
remarked, sitting down again on the couch from which he had risen. "Go
forth, my faithful Squire, and purchase me a palmer's habit, a hat of
grey colour, and a broad scallop shell. Never more will I put on yonder
coat of steel. I should but disgrace the name I have so long borne as
one of the bravest knights of Christendom."

[Well would it be if other generals and admirals would take a hint from
Saint James, and, following his example, would retire, when their powers
are failing them, from public life.]

With a sigh the faithful Pedrillo went forth, and procured, as he was
directed, a palmer's habit for his master, and one for himself. Their
armour being packed up and carried on their war-steeds, they now, as
pilgrims, journeyed homewards; but all who met them knew full well what
they had been, and even midnight robbers and outlaws respected them, and
allowed them to pass unmolested.

Thus travelling on, they reached at length the wide plains of sunny
Spain. There Saint James resolved to build a chapel, and to devote
himself to its service. He erected also a hermitage hard by, where he
and his faithful Pedrillo, who would not quit him, took up their abode
as hermits. Then the peasantry from far and near came to visit them.
Much good advice Saint James could give them, and many things he taught
them, while numberless were the strange stories he could tell of the
wonderful things he had seen and done in foreign lands.

In time, his chapel, from the gifts brought to it, became one of the
richest in the land; and this so excited the envy and anger of the monks
of a n