and he bade the
soldiers arm him with the royal sword and put a brass helmet on his
head. But David was not accustomed to wear heavy armour, and had never
been trained to use a sword. No, he would do his best with the only
weapon he thoroughly understood.

So putting on once more his shepherd's coat, he took his sling in his
hand, and as he crossed the brook at the foot of the valley he filled
his shepherd's bag with smooth stones and fitted one of them to his
sling. Then with springing steps he began to climb the opposite side.

The rage of Goliath was great when he saw the slender, fair-haired boy,
without either armour or sword, coming so boldly to meet him.

"Am I a dog," he shouted, "that thou comest to me with staves?"

[Illustration: David's fight with Goliath.]

"I come to thee in the name of the Lord of Hosts, the God of the armies
of Israel, whom thou hast defied," rang out the clear answer. "The Lord
saveth not with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord's, and He
will give you into our hands."

The great giant lifted his spear, ready with one blow to end this
unequal fight. But David did not wait to come within reach of the spear.
Before Goliath came near, the boy stopped suddenly and sent a stone
whizzing through the air straight at the giant's head. The stone sank
into Goliath's forehead, and the great figure reeled and fell with a
mighty crash to the earth. Instantly David seized his sword and cut off
his head.

[Illustration: David seized his sword and cut off his head.]

So God's people were saved, and so again God made use of the shepherd
boy's training and skill, this time to win a great victory for His
people.

The fair-haired shepherd boy had done his duty faithfully in the fields
on the hillside at home, where he was but little thought of. He had
always tried to do his best, whether he was keeping the sheep or
practising with his sling or learning to play the harp. And now,
suddenly, the great opportunity had come and found him ready.

He had entered the camp an unnoticed country lad, carrying provisions to
his brothers. Now every soldier in the camp was shouting his name; the
king was ready to shower rewards and honors upon him. He was the hero of
the hour.

The pleasant days in the Bethlehem fields were now over for David. There
was no thought of allowing him to return to his work. No, the king
declared he must remain as a soldier in the army, ready to defend his
king and coun