s old when he overcame the dragon. Who says that nine or
ten years later he could have done as much? Remember, father, that the
dragon who is devastating our island has devoured little Elo and four
or five other young boys. Brother Samuel is not go presumptuous as to
believe that at nineteen years of age he is more innocent than they were
at twelve and fourteen.

"Alas!" added the monk, with a groan, "who can boast of being chaste in
this world, where everything gives the example and model of love, where
all things in nature, animals, and plants, show us the caresses of love
and advise us to share them? Animals are eager to unite in their own
fashion, but the various marriages of quadrupeds, birds, fishes, and
reptiles are far from equalling in lust the nuptials of the trees. The
greatest extremes of lewdness that the pagans have imagined in their
fables are outstripped by the simple flowers of the field, and, if
you knew the irregularities of lilies and roses you would take those
chalices of impurity, those vases of scandal, away from your altars."

"Do not speak in this way, Brother Regimental," answered old Mael.
"Since they are subject to the law of nature, animals and plants are
always innocent. They have no souls to save, whilst man--"

"You are right," replied Brother Regimental, "it is quite a different
thing. But do not send young Samuel to the dragon--the dragon might
devour him. For the last five years Samuel is not in a state to show his
innocence to monsters. In the year of the comet, the Devil in order to
seduce him, put in his path a milkmaid, who was lifting up her petticoat
to cross a ford. Samuel was tempted, but he overcame the temptation.
The Devil, who never tires, sent him the image of that young girl in
a dream. The shade did what the reality was unable to accomplish, and
Samuel yielded. When he awoke be moistened his couch with his tears, but
alas! repentance did not give him back his innocence."

As he listened to this story Samuel asked himself how his secret could
be known, for he was ignorant that the Devil had borrowed the appearance
of Brother Regimental, so as to trouble the hearts of the monks of Alca.

And old Mael remained deep in thought and kept asking himself in grief:

"Who will deliver us from the dragon's tooth? Who will preserve us from
his breath? Who will save us from his look?"

However, the inhabitants of Alca began to take courage. The labourers of
Dombes and the neath