of rebellion.

The King tried to restore order, but the wicked nobles hated him, and
plotted together to take his life.

It was Christmas, and King James, with his Queen Joan and a party of
faithful friends, was celebrating the season at an old monastery in
Perth. The day had passed merrily, and the royal couple prepared to
retire.

Suddenly the clang of arms was heard. The ladies rushed to secure the
door of the room, but alas! the bolts and bars had gone, and only the
empty staples remained. Meanwhile King James seized the tongs, and
tearing up a board in the floor, let himself down into a vault below.
But before there was time to replace the board, the murderers came
rushing along. Then Catherine Douglas, one of the Queen's ladies, flew
to the door and thrust her arm through the empty staples, thus gaining
time to allow her sovereign to escape. The brave arm was but a frail
bar, and was soon broken, and the traitors burst into the room, to find
no sign of King James.

Unfortunately the King was unable to get out of the vault. The ladies
then made ropes of the sheets, and tried to pull him up, but the noise
was heard by the ruffians. They again rushed into the room and the
unfortunate monarch was most cruelly murdered.

Although Catherine's brave deed was not rewarded by the salvation of her
King's life, yet it was an act of self-sacrifice which places her among
the ranks of true heroines.

Casabianca

The Battle of the Nile was a great battle fought at sea between the
British and French in the year 1798. The famous admiral, Lord Nelson,
was in command of the British fleet, and he won a most glorious victory
in which only four French ships escaped.

Towards the close of the battle the French Admiral's flagship,
_L'Orient_, caught fire, and blazed up with terrible brightness. Lord
Nelson immediately gave orders that the British boats should be put off
to save as many as possible of the poor sailors on the burning vessel.

When the boats reached her side, most of the French officers accepted
the offer of safety and sprang into them. Standing upon _L'Orient's_
deck was the little ten-year-old son of the Captain, named Casabianca,
who was the favourite of everyone on board, and as he made no attempt to
move, the British sailors shouted to him to come with them.

"No," replied the boy; "my father told me to remain here, and not to
stir unless he called me."

"But," cried the sailors in amazement, "yo