from this danger, I will give myself and be his dutiful wife, so may God help me, as I will keep my promise."

These words had a powerful effect on all. The young were inflamed to daring deeds in the hope of possessing the lovely Helvig, the older were moved by her devotion to her father; and thus they left the castle, firmly resolved to exert all their power to save Alger, and drive Glob from Salling.

The same night, some hours after the guests had departed, while Glob was making preparations to invest the castle on the following day, Helvig left her chamber, and, accompanied by an attendant, glided silently through a secret passage that led into a copse, at the opposite side of which Eiler abode. He was greatly surprised at seeing them enter his dwelling.

Rise, Eiler," said Helvig, "it is not fitting that thou shouldst sleep when Alger's enemies are awake." She now related to the prince the promise that, urged by necessity, she had been obliged to make to her father's guests, and prayed of him to devise some means of anticipating the others. Take thy sword," added she, "for to-night thy part will be to save thyself, my father, and our youthful love." She then took leave of him, and the two females returned home.

But Eiler remained motionless and mute long after Helvig's departure. He felt how much depended on immediate action, he wished so heartily to save Alger; but he seemed destitute of all the means necessary for that object. After reflecting some time, he rose, threw a dark cloak over his weapons, and stole into the thicket, towards the spot where Glob had pitched his camp.

There all was life and activity; for the king had resolved upon attempting a storm as soon as daylight appeared, fearing, if he delayed longer, he should be attacked by Alger's friends.

Eiler crept as near as he could to the camp, so that he heard the enemy's men conversing together; but he was concealed from their sight, by the rushes on the bank of a deep ditch, which conveyed the water from the Limfiord into the fosses surrounding Alger's castle. Towards morning, Glob had completed his preparations. He had caused

a small hut to be raised for himself of turf and hides, in which he hoped to take some rest before the dawn gave the signal for the attack.

All was quiet in the camp.

When the men had lain down to sleep where they best could, Eiler approached softly, and crept along the edge of the ditch, concealed among the rushes, until he had passed the watch. He then walked fearlessly forward. The campfires were nearly burnt out, and the darkness veiled his features, so that those of the enemy, who were not yet asleep, took him for one of their comrades, and let him pass where he pleased.

When he came to the spot where Glob slept, he gently raised the hide which hung before the entrance, and crept into the hut.

The king lay on a bench, wrapped in his scarlet cloak. A torch was burning on a sod, which threw a red glare over the sleeper's countenance. Eiler drew a dagger from his belt, held his breath, and glided noiselessly as a snake towards the bench.

He thought of his father, whom Glob had dethroned and slain; he thought of the injury he had himself suffered, how his youth had been passed amid dangers and want, during the many years Glob had hunted him as an outlaw from place to place; he thought also that Glob's death would free Alger from a dangerous foe, and gain for him Helvig, the dear object of all his thoughts; but yet he hesitated to plunge the dagger in Glob's breast.

The king lay still and motionless in a deep sleep, his hands folded, as if he had fallen asleep while repeating his evening prayer. The longer Eiler looked on him, the more incapable he became of killing the unarmed. He fixed the dagger into the couch close to the king's head; then left the hut, and stole softly out of the camp, as unobserved and silently as he had entered it.

When he had reached the copse, he continued along the secret path that led up to Alger's castle. He went to the king, informed him of what he had overheard in the enemy's camp, and what he had done. Alger praised Eiler's daring, and, although he might have been freed from a dangerous enemy, who threatened him with destruction, he could not

withhold his admiration of the youth's exploit, and would rather live and die with honour than owe his deliverance to treachery and crime. Eiler remained in the castle, resolved to meet his death with the rest of the warriors.

As the morning sun rose over the wood, the horns were sounded in Glob's camp, and the king moved forwards towards the castle with all his men, and the strife began. All went as Alger had predicted; his force was too weak and small to prevent his enemy from ascending the ramparts, and when the bells over in Fuur sounded for matins, Glob was master of the castle. Alger ordered his men to lay down their arms, and no longer fight against such overwhelming numbers. He then descended into the court-yard, took the royal crown from his head, and laid it at the feet of Glob.

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God's peace, and a kindly greeting to you, my brother," cried Fuurland's king to him, at the same time smilingly lifting off his helmet and wiping his forehead. You see how anxious I am to enjoy your company by coming to invite you myself; although you refused to be my guest. But why take off your crown; I think such a greeting too lowly."

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that you may

"I give you my crown," answered Alger, take it as you have taken my castle and my kingdom." Take back your crown, brother,” replied Glob, "it is shaped to your head, and is much better there than at my feet. And know that I am come to-day with the intention of giving, not of taking." In saying these words he drew from his belt the dagger which Eiler the previous night had stuck in his couch.

"Look here," said he, "I bring you a knife which one of your people, whoever he may be, left behind him in my tent last night; and we have been obliged to creep over the wall to get in, as you had barred your gates against us. Let me now have a few words with the man who owns this knife."

"The knife is mine," said Eiler, advancing towards the king. "God delivered thy life into my hands, and I spared it, although I have suffered wrongs and bitter misery from thee."

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And was my life really in thy hand, Eiler?" answered

Glob. Then, as thou hast spared me, I will reward thee in the best way I can; and if I have not enough to give, Alger shall help me. What thinkest thou, my brother? If thou wilt give Eiler thy daughter, I will give them their outfit. I think that my kingdom of Fuurland will suffice for them. I am an old and childless man, and if Eiler will take reparation for blood, he and Helvig shall be my children."

Alger could hardly believe what he heard, so great was his surprise. He shed tears for joy, as he threw his arms round Glob and pressed him to his breast; and as the horn in the morning sounded for battle, so did the music in the evening resound to the dance; for that same night the marriage of Helvig and Eiler was celebrated.

All Helvig's suitors, who had promised to help Alger against his enemy, arrived at the castle just in time to be present at the wedding.

THE LUCKY PENNY.

Paul, tended jointly all
One day as they were

Two young herdsmen, Peter and the sheep belonging to the town. sitting together upon a hill, from which they had a view of all the pasture-lands around, a dealer passed with a drove of fat oxen. They knew the man, and Peter said: "That man may be called happy who is as rich as he is."

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Certainly," answered Paul; it would not be amiss to have some of his money in one's old age."

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"For one's old age?" cried Peter; no, never mind that time if I am to have money, let it be while I am young, that I can enjoy it, and live a merry and pleasant life.'

While they were thus talking together, there came a little man up the hill with a red cap on his head. Going up to Peter, he presented him with a little purse, and said: "This purse I will give to thee; there is only one silver penny in it, but every time thou art in need of money, thou hast only to thrust thy finger into the purse, and thou mayst take out as much as thou pleasest, either silver or gold; but beware thou never give the little penny away.' Hereupon he showed Peter the silver penny, and gave him the purse.

"But to thee," said he to Paul, "I will give good advice. Learn some useful handiwork, that will. best promote thy fortune." The little man then left them and disappeared in the mount.

Soon after this event Paul bound himself to a smith; but Peter began to trade. He bought all kinds of goods, went from city to city, always made a good business, and took so much money that he was known all over Jutland under the name of Rich Peter the Huckster. He then thought it was not worth while to travel longer about the country, for he had wealth enough, and could, moreover, take daily from his purse as much as he desired. He therefore bought a fine manor, called Lanting, surrounded by woods; and near the mansion flowed a river, in which there were excellent eels. Here Peter established an eel-fishery, the like of which had never before been seen, and everything in his household was on the most costly scale. Here he lived in splendour and luxury, and married a young maiden of rank.

Every day there were guests at the mansion, and Rich Peter the Huckster had no other thought than to enjoy himself. His wife, however, thought it impossible that he had money enough to continue such a life, and talked to him on the subject. But he only laughed, and said, she might be quite easy on that score, for there was no end to his riches.

But his wife secretly hoarded the gold and silver which he gave her to buy fine clothes, and this money she was desirous to conceal in some safe place. Now, down near the eel-pond she had noticed a large piece of timber, that had in it a hole, into which a wedge had been driven, but which no one could see, save those who knew it was there. Here, thought she, must be a secure hiding-place; so stealing one day down to the spot, she drew the wedge out and put in all her money; then replaced the wedge, so that no one could perceive it had been touched. This money she thought she would have as a reserve, in case her husband ever came to want it.

She

But it happened some time after this that the lady became ill and died, without telling any one of her treasure. died childless, and after her death Rich Peter became still more dissipated than ever. At his house there was always