Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-08-01

whose oft-tried bravery inspired such conf
dence. The Kiss was granted, and Gauvsn
mounted the mule and left the castle.
The same dangers through which poor Queux
passed, again presented themselves Gauvain
only laughed at them. The serpents and the
lions came out to fall upon him he drew his
sword and gave them battle. But there was no
need; the monsters, kneeling again before the
mule, went quietly away. At last he arrived
at the river, saw the bar Of iron stretching
from side to side, and knowing that there MAS
no other means of passing the dreadful waters.
and that his way lay across them, he commen-
ded himself to Cod and tried the perilous
! bridge. 1t was so narrow that the mule could
hardly set half its foot upon it. The moment
that Gauvain began the passage, the black wa
ters broke into foaming waves, which heayed
and roared all around him, as if to sweep him
away, and swallow him up; but he was immova-
bic, and arrived safely upon the opposite bank.
There he found strong castle, before which
stood a row Of four hundred iron stakes, each
of which, with exception, bore upon its
point bloody head; this one, yet bare, seem
ed to be waiting for its horrible decoration
The fortress, surrounded by deep moats which
were filed by foaming torrent, turned round
as if upon pivot, like gigantic milestone.
| 1t had, besides, no drawbridge, and seemed to
deny to Gauvain any opportunity to display
| his valor. He, nevertheless, determined to
wait, hoping that the castle, in one of its revo-
| lutions, would offer him some sort of entrance;
| and determined, at all events, to perish on the
! spot, if it did not; rather than to return with
disgrace. And finally, door did open; he
spurred his mule, which at one bound cleared
the enormous moat, and he found himself
within the walls Of the castle.
Here every thing seemed to indicate re-
cent desolation. The courts and passages were
empty, no one looked from the gaping win
dowS, and on all sides was solitude and
death-like silence. A dwarf finally came out
and looked closely at the knight. Gauvain
asked him who was his lord or lady; where
they might be found, and what they expected
him to do. The dwarf disappeared without an
answer. The knight went on his way through
the vast and fearful solitude of the castle, and
soon saw a giant, hideous TO look upon, come
from a cavern; his hair brstling as if with rage
and armed with nuge battle-axe. Gauvain
waited quietly to discover the giants inten-
tion, when the latter, instead of attacking,
even berating him, appauded his courage, but
pitied him for undertaking adventure, the
issue of which could not but be fatal, and from
which the terrible iron palisade outside the
castle should have deferred him. Neverthe
less, he offered him food, treated him well, and
showed him the chamber where he was to
| sleep. But before going out, he ordered the
hero to strike off his head, saying that he
| should come in the morning to do the same
thing for his guest in turn. Gauvain immedi-
| atey drew his sword, struck, and the giants
| head rolled at his feet. What was his surprise
at seeing the monster pick it up, put it upon
| his shoulders, and stalk off! Nevertheless, as
he knew that he should need all his wits and
! all his strength on the morrow, he went to bed
and slept TRANQUILITY, undsturbed by fear Of
| coming danger. At break of day the giant
came with the axe to fulfill his promise. He
awoke the knight, and according to the con-
ditions stated to him on the day before, order
ed him to present his head. Gauvin, sure that
nothing could be gained by refusal hesitation,
| instantly bent his neck. 1t was but trial of
his courage. The giant, instead of striking off
Gauvain's head, praised and embraced him.
| The knight asked whittier he should go to find
the Bride, and what he must do to obtain it.
Sc You viii know before the day is over,''
was the answer, ssbut summon all your cour-
age; yori never needed it more.'
At mid d-day, Gauvain presented himself at
the place of combat, and foGnd there an enor-
nous lion, foaming, gnawing mis- chain, and
tearing pp the earth With his claws. At the
sight of bis adversary, the savage beast broke
irt.o a fearful roar, bristling his enormous
name; his chain fell from him and he thre"
himself upon Gauvain, whose coat of mail ne
tore open at the first bound. They fought long
} and furiously, but the lion was killed. Anoth
er yet larger and more savage, was let loose
but he pershed like the first Gauvaln, see
ing no other enemy appear, demanded the
bride but the giant, without answering, lee
him to his chamber. There he made him ca
to recover his strength, and soon afterwar'
led him before another opponent.
This was formidable knight; the same WIN
had set up the iron pales outside the castle
and with his own hands had placed upon then
the heads of the four hundred vanquishe'
champions. A horse and strong lance Wer
given to each; they rode away to take distanc
for their career, and hurled themselves agains
each other. At the first shock, their lance
flew into splinters, and their saddle-girth
burst. Both sprang up to renew the fight o
foot Their arms rang under their formidabl
r. kux