ove, more than ambition, which
is perhaps the self-consciousness of great souls who have a hint of
their eternal fame.

Behind this beautiful pair rode two men whose dress indicated their
high rank; one about thirty years old, the other a pale, elderly man
with dress simple to affectation. It is worth while to mark this man's
face, for we shall often meet him; cold dry features, thin blonde hair
and beard mixed with grey, a pointed cleft chin, scornful pale lips,
quick watery blue eyes with red rims, jutting eyebrows, a high bald
shining forehead which with every change of feeling was wrinkled in
all directions. This face we may not forget. The rest--the Herculean
rider, the smiling youth, the stately girl,--will hurry past us like
fleeting pictures which come only to go; but this last will accompany
us throughout the entire course of events, ever appearing only to cast
down or to build up, to determine the fate of great men and lands. The
bald head moved nearer to the knight at his side who was testing his
lance as if for a throw, and said to him in an undertone, evidently
continuing a conversation:

"So, then, you Transylvanians will not have anything to do with this
affair?"

"Let me have a rest from politics to-day," answered the other,
starting impatiently. "You have got so that you cannot live a single
day without intrigues, but I beg of you, spare me to-day. To-day I
wish to hunt, and you know how passionately I love the chase."

With these words he spurred his horse forward, and joined the stately
knight.

Thus rebuffed, the older man bit his lips in vexation, then turned
with a smile to the youthful knight riding before him.

"A glorious morning, gracious lord; would that our horizon were as
bright in every direction."

"Would that it were," answered the youth, without really knowing what
it was to which he was replying, while the beautiful Amazon leaned
over and said to him:

"I don't know why it is but I cannot place any confidence in that man.
He is forever putting questions and never answers any himself."

Just then the stately rider came up with the group of hunters,
acknowledged their loud greetings and stopped in their midst.

"David," he called to an old grey-bearded hunter who came forward, cap
in hand, "put your cap on. Have the drivers of the game all taken
their places?"

"Every man is in his place, gracious lord. I have already sent boats
to the swamp in case the beasts are frightene