a,' shrieked the maidens; 'help, protect save!'

'See you those rough and savage men?' said Hiorba; 'They do not know
which has the best right to the flimsy web, and yet each knight is
ready to murder his brother-in-arms for its possession. You have here a
specimen of what men call honor; and believe me, as their feet now
recklessly trample upon the delicate wood-flower in their deadly
struggle, so will the tyranny of their strength, their pride, and their
sensuality, trample upon all your tenderest feelings and finally break
your hearts.'

'Why waste so many words,' complained the maidens; 'save, good mother,
separate the frantic knights.'

Shaking her head in token of disapprobation, Hiorba reluctantly took
her wand and opened a cage which hung from the arch above; a bird of
paradise came chirping thence, and perched confidingly upon her
shoulder.

'Go, bring me the veil, Immo!' said Hiorba; 'and lead hither the
contending knights, also.'

With her wand she softly touched the bird between its wings, and,
sweetly warbling, it shot off like an arrow from the bow.

CHAPTER IV.

Ryno and Idallan still continued their insane struggle. Their helmets
and scarfs were hacked to pieces, and hung in fragments about their
shoulders. The green sward was already dyed crimson from their many
wounds, when the thrilling song of a bird, fuller and sweeter than the
voluptuous tones of the nightingale, filled the neighboring air.
Through the soothing influence of those tones, softer feelings were
awakened in the breasts of the combatants. An armistice was tacitly
concluded; and with suspended breath they listened to the heavenly
music, until they at length perceived a beautiful winged songster
fluttering about the branch upon which the veil was hanging. Softer and
more soul-thrilling were the seductive tones poured from its little
throat, and Ryno hazarded the remark:

'How foolish to be hacking each other's bones for a thing of so little
consequence!'

'You are right!' said Idallan, putting up his sword and extending his
hand to his brother-in-arms. A clear-ringing song of triumph resounded
from the beak of the wonderful bird as their hands met with the grasp
of reconciliation, while the little mediator seized the veil in its
purple claws, and moved slowly and gracefully toward the west, still
continuing its enticing music. 'It calls us, brother, shall we not
follow?' asked Ryno.

'Yes