rse
across the trench, he entered the gate of the city, which had opened
wide enough to receive him.

The news of these marvels quickly spread through the town, and put fresh
spirit into the garrison, so that they declared themselves able to fight
under the command of the young stranger. And as the bowl restored all
the dead Bretons to life, Peronnik soon had an army large enough to
drive away the French, and fulfilled his promise of delivering his
country.

As to the bowl and the lance, no one knows what became of them, but some
say that Bryak the sorcerer managed to steal them again, and that any
one who wishes to possess them must seek them as Peronnik did.

From 'Le Foyer Breton,' par Emile Souvestre.

_THE BATTLE OF THE BIRDS_

THERE was to be a great battle between all the creatures of the earth
and the birds of the air. News of it went abroad, and the son of the
king of Tethertown said that when the battle was fought he would be
there to see it, and would bring back word who was to be king. But in
spite of that, he was almost too late, and every fight had been fought
save the last, which was between a snake and a great black raven. Both
struck hard, but in the end the snake proved the stronger, and would
have twisted himself round the neck of the raven till he died had not
the king's son drawn his sword, and cut off the head of the snake at a
single blow. And when the raven beheld that his enemy was dead, he was
grateful, and said:

'For thy kindness to me this day, I will show thee a sight. So come up
now on the root of my two wings.' The king's son did as he was bid, and
before the raven stopped flying, they had passed over seven bens and
seven glens and seven mountain moors.

'Do you see that house yonder?' said the raven at last. 'Go straight to
it, for a sister of mine dwells there, and she will make you right
welcome. And if she asks, "Wert thou at the battle of the birds?" answer
that thou wert, and if she asks, "Didst thou see my likeness?" answer
that thou sawest it, but be sure thou meetest me in the morning at this
place.'

The king's son followed what the raven told him and that night he had
meat of each meat, and drink of each drink, warm water for his feet, and
a soft bed to lie in.

Thus it happened the next day, and the next, but on the fourth morning,
instead of meeting the raven, in his place the king's son found waiting
for him the handsomest youth that ever was seen,