turn, and many on both sides sunk on the ensanguined
plain never to rise again.

Knight after knight sank down under the terrific blows of the Pagan
clubs and battle-axes, till there seemed but little prospect that the
patriot army would gain the victory. In vain the Christian army shouted
and charged. The sturdy Pagans refused to give way.

At length, Saint David, recollecting the words uttered by the prophetic
bard in the morning, assembled round him his bravest knights, and,
throwing up his visor, exhibited his countenance, whereon sat a beaming
smile, expressive of patriotism and valour.

"One of the noblest in the land, it is said, must this day fall before
the battle is won!" he exclaimed. "If such I am, then happy shall I be
to be thus honoured in my death. Charge! brave knights, charge!"

With these words, the last he ever uttered, the noble Champion rushed
into the thickest of the fight, where a hundred battle-axes rattled on
his helmet, a hundred swords were pointed at his side, a hundred spears
thrust against his fearless breast, and a hundred arrows shot at his
head. Pierced by a hundred wounds he fell, but his followers bravely
avenged his death. The Pagan hordes were put to flight; and Saint David
has ever since, even to the present day, been held in affectionate
remembrance, as he fully deserved, by all Welshmen.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

THE DEATH OF SAINT DENIS.

Saint Denis of France, like his brother Champions, much desired, after
his long wanderings, to see once more the smiling fields of _la belle_
France, and thus he, too, followed by the faithful Le Crapeau, turned
his steps homeward. Time had not failed to leave its hoary marks on
him, and his snowy locks and flowing beard showed full well that the
winter of his life had at length overtaken him.

Still he kept his armour on, though his shrunken form often seemed to
rattle within it; and the chill blasts, as they entered the crevices,
blew round and round him, and made him often wish for his armchair, and
dressing-gown, and slippers, as does many another elderly gentleman, who
would be far wiser if he kept by his own fireside, instead of allowing
himself to be dragged about the world, in search of a very doubtful sort
of advantage or amusement for the younger branches of his family.

Saint Denis had not neglected in his travels to discover many things
which he thought might be with advantage introduced into his native
country. He