uld
he, for reasons into which most stout squires will enter, leap on to his
horse's back and cut the bridle, so he sat still, waving and shouting to
Saint George to come to his assistance. At last, Saint George, having
killed a dozen of the lions, beheld the peril of his faithful follower,
and spurred onward to his aid. Charging with a new spear, which had
been presented to him by the matrons of Bagabornabou, as a mark of their
admiration of his prowess in having slain the dragon, he bore down upon
the crocodile. He charged directly at its mouth, and inflicted a deep
wound in its throat. The monster snapped its jaws, hoping to bite off
the spear-head; but the Knight was too quick for him, and again had his
spear ready for another thrust. Again he charged, putting out the
brute's right eye; and the third time he charged the left was driven in.
All the time the crocodile was wriggling his tail, greatly to the
terror of the horse and the discomfort of De Fistycuff, who found
himself every moment borne nearer and nearer to the Nile. "One charge
more, and you shall be safe," cried the Knight; and, true to his word,
his spear entered the monster's heart, and it rolled over, very nearly,
however, crushing the faithful Squire by its weight. Scarcely had De
Fistycuff been liberated by his kind master's aid, and set on his steed,
than there sallied forth from a heathen temple hard by a procession of
priests, some walking under silk or velvet canopies of crimson or
yellow, or blue and gold; others swinging censers of incense; and others
bearing aloft on platforms large images of white bulls and apes, and
snakes and crocodiles, while gay banners floated in the air. When they
beheld the huge monster just slain they all set up loud lamentations,
bitterly cursing whoever had destroyed this their god.

"Now, by my halidom, this is more than I can bear!" cried Saint George.
"On, De Fistycuff, on! Down with the infidels!"

With this shout he and his Squire rode in among them, overthrowing their
canopies and images, tearing down their banner, and putting the priests
and their followers to flight.

King Ptolemy, having heard of this deed, sent forth a hundred of his
best warriors, to bring before him in chains the audacious strangers;
but Saint George treated them much the same as he did the knights of
Bagabornabou, and not one returned alive to tell of their defeat.

Then he rode on to the city of Memphis, to deliver his lett