ow up to be a knight, mother?" asked he. His
mother smiled, and then looked sober as she brushed his brown hair back
from his forehead and said, "Knights have many, many hard things to do,
my son, and oftentimes their lives are in danger." "Yes, I know,"
answered Cedric eagerly, "but think, mother, how brave they are, and how
good! Do they not protect our country?" "Yes," said his mother, "I know
all that. I could not sleep at night when our enemies are near at hand
if I did not know that Sir Rollin Dubois and his brave soldiers were on
the hill close by. But you are a very little boy, Cedric. Run out to
your play now."

Many times during the next few weeks little Cedric thought of the grand
knights and how one of them had smiled at him and had spoken as if _he_,
Cedric, might some day be a great, strong knight and ride a beautiful
horse, and do brave deeds.

Weeks passed by and the spring had changed into summer. One evening,
just as the setting sun was turning all the white clouds into gold and
crimson, Cedric stood in the low doorway wondering if where the angels
lived could be more beautiful than was the sky over his dear mountain
home. He suddenly heard the tramp of horses' feet, and looking down
across the plain, he saw a gay party of horsemen. Their armor flashed
and shone in the light of the setting sun and their long white plumes
waved in the gentle evening breeze. His face lighted up with a glad
smile, for he knew that it was Sir Rollin Dubois and his soldiers
returning from the terrible war to which the King had sent them. They
soon came near enough for Cedric to see their faces, as the heavy steel
visors of their helmets were lifted so that they might breathe more
freely the soft summer air. It had been a warm day, and Cedric noticed
that even the tallest knight among them looked tired, and as if he would
be glad to get to the castle and lay aside, for a while at least, his
heavy armor.

Just as they were passing the door in which Cedric stood, one of them
stopped his horse and leaning forward said, "My little man, will you
give me a drink of water?" Cedric ran quickly and filled a cup with
fresh, cool water from the spring near by, and brought it to the knight.
"Thank you," said the nobleman, as he handed the cup back to Cedric. "I
am very glad to be able to serve you," said Cedric quietly. The knight
smiled, gathered up the reins of his horse, and said, "You are as
courteous as a knight, my boy."

Tha