h would procure them safe passage through his country and
access to the Sultan Gaudisso. The two friends hastened to avail
themselves of this favorable turn, and taking leave of Floriac, pursued
their journey.

HUON OF BORDEAUX (Continued)

HUON had seen many beauties at his mother's court, but his heart had
never been touched with love. Honor had been his mistress, and in
pursuit of that he had never found time to give a thought to softer
cares. Strange that a heart so insensible should first be touched by
something so unsubstantial as a dream; but so it was.

The day after the adventure with his uncle night overtook the
travellers as they passed through a forest. A grotto offered them
shelter from the night dews. The magic cup supplied their evening meal;
for such was its virtue that it afforded not only wine, but more solid
fare when desired. Fatigue soon threw them into profound repose. Lulled
by the murmur of the foliage, and breathing the fragrance of the
flowers, Huon dreamed that a lady more beautiful than he had ever
before seen hung over him and imprinted a kiss upon his lips. As he
stretched out his arms to embrace her a sudden gust of wind swept her
away.

Huon awoke in an agony of regret. A few moments sufficed to afford some
consolation in showing him that what had passed was but a dream; but
his perplexity and sadness could not escape the notice of Sherasmin.
Huon hesitated not to inform his faithful follower of the reason of his
pensiveness; and got nothing in return but his rallyings for allowing
himself to be disturbed by such a cause. He recommended a draught from
the fairy goblet, and Huon tried it with good effect.

At early dawn they resumed their way. They travelled till high noon,
but said little to one another. Huon was musing on his dream, and
Sherasmin's thoughts flew back to his early days on the banks of the
flowery Garonne.

On a sudden they were startled by the cry of distress, and turning an
angle of the wood, came where a knight hard pressed was fighting with a
furious lion. The knight's horse lay dead, and it seemed as if another
moment would end the combat, for terror and fatigue had quite disabled
the knight for further resistance. He fell, and the lion's paw was
raised over him, when a blow from Huon's sword turned the monster's
rage upon a new enemy. His roar shook the forest, and he crouched in
act to spring, when, with the rapidity of lightning, Huon plunged his
sword