r Ormandine, who came to mock at, and gloat over their
misery.

"Ah! ah!" he exclaimed, with a voice croaking like ten thousand frogs,
and loud as thunder, "you came to cut off my head, and carry the gory
trophy to the Emperor; but now you find, my friends, you've caught a
Tartar."

Notwithstanding, however, this conduct of the Enchanter, his chief
captive was not so miserable as he supposed. A kind fairy all the time
watched over him; and as Saint David lay on his couch she sent four of
her attendant spirits, in the form of damsels, of no mean beauty, who
tended him with the gentlest care, and brought him fruits and other
luxuries, which they offered whenever he awoke, and then sang him to
sleep again with their sweet voices, so that his time passed far more
agreeably than would certainly otherwise have been the case, or the
Enchanter had any idea of.

CHAPTER ELEVEN.

THE RELEASE OF SAINT GEORGE.

Seven times had frosty-bearded winter covered the ground with snow, and
behung the trees with crystal icicles, since the Champion Saint George,
and the faithful De Fistycuff, lay groaning in their far-off dungeon in
Egypt, for having ventured to assert that crocodiles, and apes, and
snakes, were not fit objects of reverence.

One day, as by chance the Knight was wringing his hands, in despair of
ever getting free, he chanced to rub in a peculiar manner the magic ring
which the Fairy Sabrina had given him. A bright light was forthwith
emitted from it, which increased and increased till it filled the
chamber, and from the midst of it appeared the Fairy herself, in her
chariot drawn by ten peacocks.

"Gallant Knight, why did you not summon me before?" she asked, in her
sweet voice; and Saint George had to confess, with shame, that he had
forgotten all about the power of the magic ring.

"I cannot free you from this prison by magic power; but I will give you
tools with which you may free yourselves, and then you will set more
value on your liberty than if you had gained it without toil. I never
afford aid to any who are not ready to labour for themselves."

The Fairy having thus spoken, supplied the Knight and his Squire with
hammers, chisels, spades, mattocks, and crowbars.

"Your steeds and weapons you will find ready outside the gates," added
the Fairy. "When once more prepared for battle, go forth, and conquer."

The Knight and De Fistycuff felt their strength and spirits wonderfully
improved at these w