"If I am ever freed from this imprisonment," said Mabon, "it can only be through battle and strife."

Then the Salmon bore Kay and Uriel back to their companions.

III

The four knights hastened to return to King Arthur, and they told him how Mabon, the son of Modron, was held prisoner in the dungeon of Gloucester Castle. Then Arthur summoned all the warriors of the realm, and they set out for Gloucester.

The army of the king journeyed round by land, but Kay and Bedivere sailed upon the back of the Salmon of Lone Lake. And while Arthur and his knights were besieging the castle, and the garrison were defending it, Kay broke through the wall of the dungeon and gave the prisoner his freedom.

So then Arthur returned home, victorious; and Mabon, the son of Modron, went with him, rejoicing.

EXPRESSION: Read the speech which Uriel made to each of the animals. Read the reply of each, giving to every sentence its proper meaning.

Pronounce correctly: Mā'bon; Mŏd'ron; Kāy; Ouzel ('ōōzl), a blackbird; Bĕd'ì vēre ; U'rì ĕl; Id'wěl; Aldergrove (ôl'dergrove); Salmon (săm'un); Sěu'ern; Gloucester (glos'ter).

THE FOX IN THE WELL1

Sir Reynard once, as I've heard tell,
Had fallen into a farmer's well,
When Wolf, his cousin, passing by,
Heard from the depths his dismal cry.
Over the wheel a well chain hung,
From which two empty buckets swung.
At one drawn up beside the brink,
The Fox had paused, no doubt, to drink;
And, putting in his head, had tipped
The bucket, and the bucket slipped;
When, hampered by the bail, he fell,
As I have said, into the well.
As down the laden bucket went,
The other made its swift ascent.

His cousin Wolf, beguiled to
stop,

Listened astonished, at the top,

1 By J. T. Trowbridge.

Looked down, and, by the uncertain light, Saw Reynard in a curious plight,

There in his bucket at the bottom,

Calling as if the hounds had caught him!

"What do you there?" his cousin cried. "Dear cousin Wolf," the Fox replied, "In coming to the well to draw Some water, what d'ye think I saw? It glimmered bright and still below; You've seen it, but you did not know It was a treasure. Now, behold! I have my bucket filled with gold Enough to buy ourselves and wives Poultry to last us all our lives!"

The Wolf made answer, with a grin, "Dear me! I thought you tumbled in! What, then, is all this noise about?" "Because I could not draw it out, I called to you," the Fox replied. First help me, then we will divide."

"How?"

"Get into the bucket there."

The Wolf, too eager for a share,
Did not one moment pause to think;
There hung the bucket by the brink,

And in he stepped. As down he went,
The cunning Fox made his ascent,
Being the lighter of the two.

"That's right! Ha, ha! how well you do!
How glad I am you came to help!"

Wolf struck the water with a yelp;

The Fox leaped out; "Dear Wolf," said he,
"You've been so very kind to me,
I'll leave the treasure all to you;
I hope 'twill do you good!

Adieu!

Off he shot,

There comes the farmer!"
And disappeared across the lot,
Leaving the Wolf to meditate
Upon his miserable fate ; —
To flattering craft a victim made,

By his own greediness betrayed !

THE MOUSE DEER AND THE TIGER1

In some parts of India there lives a beautiful little animal called the mouse deer.

is only about twelve inches high.

When full grown it

Its color is a mouse

gray spotted with white. It is very timid and hides

1 A Siamese Fable.

itself in thickets and dark woods; but when tamed it becomes a gentle and intelligent pet.

The people in some places tell many curious stories about the mouse deer, and they say that no other animal is more cunning or wise. One of the stories most often told is as follows:

One day a tiger happened to be caught in a cage. He asked a man who was passing by to let him out.

The man said, "I will let you out if

you will promise

not to hurt me."

"Certainly, certainly," answered the tiger.

The man, therefore, opened the door of the cage, and the tiger leaped out.

"A promise is good for nothing when it is made through fear," said the beast; and it sprang upon the

man.

"Wait, wait!" cried the man. "Let us inquire about this; and if you are in the right, then you may eat me."

The tiger agreed to this, and both set out together. On coming to the road the man said, "O Road, Road! Is it right to do evil for good, or only good for good?"