a moment, but the thread was firm
in his hand, and led right up the hill. On he went, and no wonder he
started, when, as he turned the corner of a rock, he heard another roar,
and saw the head of a huge lion looking out of what seemed to be a cave,
a few yards back from the edge of a dizzy precipice! He saw, too, that
the path he must follow was between the lion's den and the precipice.
What now was to be done? Should he give up his thread and fly? No! A
voice in his heart encouraged him to be brave and not fear, and he knew
from his experience that he had always been led in safety and peace when
he followed the road, holding fast to his thread. He was certain that
his father never would deceive him, or bid him do anything but what was
right; and he was sure, too, that the lady, from her love to him, and
her teaching him to trust God and to pray, would not have bid him do
anything that was wrong. And then an old verse his father taught him
came into his mind--

"In the darkest night, my child,
Canst thou see the Right, my child?
Forward then! God is near!
The Right will be light to thee,
Armour and might to thee;
Forward! and never fear!"

So Eric resolved to go on in faith. There was just one thing he saw
which cheered him, and that was a white hare, sitting with her ears
cocked, quite close to the lion's den, and he wondered how she had no
fear, but he could not explain it at the time. On he walked, but he
could hardly breathe, as the thread led still nearer and nearer to the
den. These big eyes were glaring on him, and seemed to draw him closer
and closer! There the lion stood, on one side of the path, while the
great precipice descended on the other. One step more, and he was
between these two dangers. He moved on until he was so near that he
seemed to feel the lion's breath, and then the brute sprang out on him,
and tried to strike him with his huge paw that would have crushed him to
the dust! Eric shut his eyes, and gave himself up for lost. But the lion
suddenly fell back, for he was held fast by a great iron chain, and so
Eric passed in safety!

[Illustration]

Oh, how thankful he was! and how gladly he ran down hill, the lion in
his den roaring behind him! Down he ran until all was quiet again. As he
pursued his journey in the beautiful green woods, something told him his
greatest trial was past. He felt very peaceful and strong. And now, as
he reached some noble old