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nose into the water, a sparkle of light coming from the 5

       white sand at the bottom of the clear stream. Stooping

       down, I picked up the black pebble you now hold, guided

       to it by that crystal eye in the center, from which the light

       flashes so brilliantly."

      "Why, thou simple one," cried the priest, "this is no 10

       common stone, but a gem of the purest water. Come,

       show me where thou didst find it."

      Together they fled to the spot where the farmer had

       found the "pebble," and turning over the white sands with

       eager fingers, they found, to their great delight, other 15

       stones even more valuable and beautiful than the first.

       Then they extended their search, and, so the Oriental

       story goes, "every shovelful of the old farm, as acre after

       acre was sifted over, revealed gems with which to decorate

       the crowns of emperors and moguls." 20

      —Stories from Life.

      1. What is a legend? Distinguish between "legend" and "story." In what country is the scene of this legend laid?

      2. What is your opinion of Ali Hafed? What happened to his family?

      3. Do we have any Ali Hafeds in this country to-day? What do we mean by "Get-rich-quick" schemes? Illustrate.

      4. If you were writing this story in these days of intensive farming, in what form would you have the "diamonds" come to the farmer?

HOW KILHUGH RODE TO ARTHUR'S HALL

       Table of Contents

      By James Baldwin

       Table of Contents

      This is a British legend of the days "when good King Arthur ruled the land." In his castle at Caerleon, according to legend, Arthur had gathered the most famous of his knights about the Round Table; and thither every aspiring knight journeyed in quest of adventure.

      Prince Kilhugh blushed. The love of Olwen, the

       daughter of Thistlehair, filled his heart, although he

       had not heard her name before. His face flushed with

       happiness, and his eyes shone with joy.

      "What is the matter, my son?" asked his father. "Why 5

       are you so gay and glad?"

      "Father," answered Kilhugh, "my stepmother says

       that no one but Olwen shall be my wife."

      "Well," quoth the king, "I doubt not there will be

       trouble enough before that saying comes true. But do 10

       not fear, my son. Thou art first cousin to King Arthur.

       Who but he should cut thy hair and be thy lord? Go to

       him, and crave this of him as a boon."

      To Arthur's Hall, therefore, Prince Kilhugh made ready

       to go; and his father chose fifty of his bravest knights 15

       to go with him, that he might present himself to King

       Arthur in a befitting manner.

      So gayly the youth rode forth upon a steed of dappled

       gray, four summers old, with shell-shaped hoofs and well-knit

       limbs. His saddle was of burnished gold, his bridle 20

       of shining gold chains. His saddle cloth was of purple

       silk, with four golden apples embroidered in the four

       corners.

      The war horn slung over his shoulder was of ivory; the

       sword that hung by his side had a golden hilt and a two-edged 5

       blade inlaid with a cross of gold that glittered like

       the lightning of heaven. His shoes, from the knee to the

       tip of the toe, were embossed with gold worth three hundred

       cattle; and his stirrups also were of gold.

      In his hand he held two spears, with shafts of silver and10

       heads of tempered steel, and of an edge so sharp as to wound

       the wind and cause the blood to flow. Two white-breasted

       greyhounds bounded before his steed. Broad collars

       set with rubies were on their necks; and to and fro they 15

       sprang, like two sea swallows sporting around him. The

       blades of reed grass bent not beneath him, so light was

       his courser's tread, as he journeyed toward the gate of

       Arthur's palace.

      The Wide White Hall of Arthur had been built by Rearfort,20

       the architect. Eight and forty were the rafters of

       its roof. It would hold all Arthur's companions and his

       nobles, his warriors, his retainers, and his guests.

      While Kilhugh was riding thither, the tables were set

       for the evening meal. The king, with his knights, his

       friends, and his attendants, were in their places around 25

       the board. And the gate of the outer court was locked.

      As the prince rode on, he beheld from afar the walls and

       towers of Arthur's Hall. When he drew rein within the

       shadow of the vast portal, he saw that the door was closed

       and barred, and an armed warrior, stalwart and strong, 30

       was standing before it.

      "O chieftain," he said, "is it King Arthur's custom

       to have a gatekeeper stationed here?"

      "It is," replied the warrior sternly; "and if thou dost

       not hold thy peace, scant shall be thy welcome. I am

       Arthur's porter every New Year's Day, and that is why I 5

       am here now."

      "And who is the porter at other times?" asked Prince

       Kilhugh.

      "At other times the gate is guarded by four lusty chieftains

       who serve under me," answered the Dusky Hero with 10

       the Mighty Grasp. "The names of the first two are

       Blandmien and Speedguest. The third is Grumgruff, a

       man who never did anyone a favor in his life. The fourth

       is Rumbleroll, who goes on his head to save his feet. He

       neither holds it up to the sky like a man, nor stretches it 15

       out toward the ground like a brute; but he goes tumbling

       about the floor, like nothing but a rolling stone."

      "Unbar the door and let me in," commanded Kilhugh.

      "Nay, that I will not," answered the Dusky Hero with

       the Mighty Grasp. 20

      "And why not?" cried the prince.

      "The

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