, who
all in time became knights and great lords of the realm.

After the tournament and all the festivities were over, the Seven
Champions prepared to depart, each for his own country; but, ere they
commenced their journey, news arrived that all the great Pagan Powers
had banded together to overthrow the Christian Emperor of the East, who,
therefore, sent to entreat all the aid they and their followers could
afford. With one accord they promised to raise an army, and to hurry
back to his assistance.

Saint George, leaving his youthful bride, the lovely Princess Sabra, in
his castle near Coventry, soon levied a powerful army; and, setting
sail, no longer as a knight-errant, but as a renowned general, he
arrived with his forces on the coast of Portugal, where he was joined by
the other six Champions, who each brought troops in proportion to the
size of his country. So enchanted were the Portuguese with Saint
George, that, having no Champion of their own, they entreated him to
become theirs, and have ever since retained him among their most
honoured saints and heroes. Here Saint George was chosen generalissimo
of all the Christian forces, and, once more setting sail, he entered the
Mediterranean. Then, landing on the coast of Morocco, he bethought him
of punishing Almidor, the black King of that country, who was about to
join the Pagan armies.

The Moors in vain endeavoured to prevent the landing of the Christian
Champions. The battle was hot and furious. Almidor rushed to the van,
where quickly he was singled out by Saint George. Terrific was the
combat, and never before was the Moorish Monarch so hotly pressed.

Now he had prepared, in full expectation of victory, a vast cauldron of
boiling metal, in which he purposed, with fell intent, to cast the
Christian Champions and their followers; but when at length, unable any
longer to withstand the far-famed sword of Saint George, he fled in
despair, to cast himself headlong in, and his example being followed by
his generals and chief officers, the furious battle was brought to a
speedy end, and the Princess Sabra was well avenged for the cruelties
the black Almidor had inflicted on her.

Scarcely had this satisfactory event been brought about than Saint
George received the unwelcome news that the Earl of Coventry was
besieging his castle in England, for the purpose of carrying off the
Lady Sabra, his bride, and now the mother of three blooming boys,--the
wicked