Year: 1867




hopes and affections. If memory of Guiscar


rose before her, it was silent memory of the hea


that her maidenly reserve would have carried, vi


revealed, down into the depths of the troubled ws
ters, which she felt would in few short hours,


her winding sheet and grave.


Buthark what clarion-ike sound was that whic


rings like note of deEverance and hope? Yo


vatchful steed, standing by his master on the bank


did not join in the vigil of his lord in vain. Hi


watchful eye beheld the canoe as it came speedin


from behind the point of land, and with neig


like the blast of trumpet, he signals its coming.


His master has grasped the name and vaults light
| ly upon his back.


Startled and terminated by the sound, Hele


turns her face to the spot and joyful sight to her


poor futtering heart! beheld on the firm lam
where the swamp no longer encroaches, horse
man sitting on steed, black as night both loom
ing up, clearly defined against the western sky
The figure of horse and rider stood moionless ant
impassive, like an equestrian statue hewn out o
black marble and polished until it seems translu
cent The face of the horseman was turned to
wards her, and she knew that the glance of his darl
eagle eye was fixed upon her with deep intensity
Rider and steed she knew at glance. 1t was Guis
card who stands there as ifsentfrom heavenfor hel
deliverance She could not doubt his purpose, fo
she saw he had prepared himself for his most dar
ing and hazardous attempt Her bosom swellec
with tumult ofmingled emotions Joy, gratitude
and fear for him who was about to risk his Life, sc
generously, for her preservation. She would have
called aloud and implored him not to make the
hazardous attempt which might have cost him sc
DEAR but her tongue failed its utterance, and she
sat almost parayzed with fear as she saw the black
steed like statue, suddenly instinct with life, move
down to the water with his rider and fearlessy en-
tering, begin his desperate struggle with the wild
current. She could see his long name and tai
floating upon the water, and hear his prolonged
groaning sure indication of a steed that knows
the work before him-as he came galantly on
from the land.


When he reached the most rapid part of the cur,
rent; horse and rider both seemed, for moment,
to disappear, as the obstructed waters mounted
yet higher and seemed for an instant to submerge
them, but it was for moment only, and with beat
ing heart painfully agonized with apprehension,
she saw them again appear unharmed and battling
bravely and successfully with the element, nearer
and yet nearer to the canoe. The waters rolled and
struggled around them-now they reeled in the
food, apparently spent with the mighty effort and
sinking with exhaustion-but the brave horse, raj
lying again, showed his fiery eye and his nostrils
red and distended, with the mighty effort to keep
above the water, in which he seemed fast sinking
with fatigue Now they approached to within a
few rods of the canoe when, suddenly, the energies
of the noble animal seemed to collapse, and he
hoated down with the current like laundering YES
sell


''On Bayard, on!" shouted his rider, in cheer
ing tones. At the sound of the well known voice,
the noble brute reused himself for one desperate
struggle more. His eyes seemed starting from
their sockets, as, with head projected, he made a
final and desperate effort to reach the canoe. 1t
was a successful one. A moment more and he
had borne his master alongside the canoe. The
arm of Guiscard even rested upon its edge. 1t yet
remained for him, before leaving his horse to his
fate, to disencumber him Of his bride, that he
might not become entangled in the reins. Reach
ing forth his right hand the headstall was in an
instant disengaged and the bride thrown into the
boat. Resting hand upon each side of the canoe,
Guiscard raised himself dexterousy and sprang in.
Relieved of his rider the horse rose upon the water
Relief had not come moment too soon-fortu-
nately it did not come too late He hoated passive
ly by the side of the canoe for few seconds, and
shaking the water from his name, struck out, with
renewed vigor and strength, for the bank he had
just left.


''God bless thee, my gallant Bayard, and bear
thee safely to land!' was the parting apostrophe
of Guiscard. "If legions of angels encompass sell
fish and ungrateful man, surely some pitying angel
might be thy guide!"


The strong excitement which had sustained Helen
in the dangers through which she had passed, sud
denly died away in the first moment Of conscious
security, and she fell fainting into the arms of her
delverer. Itwas no moment for idle ceremony, or
useless delay. Guiscard laid her gently in the bot
tom of the canoe, and taking his seat in the stern
piled his paddle skifully and with vigor. The
canoe skinned over the water, like bird, to the
shore; and gently lifting Helen in his arms, Guis-
card soon placed her in comfort and security under
the shelter of one of those huge oaks on the bluff,
that spread its top, like green pavilion, over the
messy seats that crowded its base. Resuming the
garments of which he had disencumbered himself,
Guiscard took his place by her side.