t able
to go against this Philistine and fight him, for thou art but a youth,
and he a man of war from his youth."

Throwing his shoulders back, and standing with head held high and eyes
bright with determination, David answered proudly:

"I kept my father's sheep, and there came a lion and a bear and took a
lamb out of the flock, and I went out after him, and delivered it out
of his mouth, and when he rose against me, I caught him by the beard
and smote him and slew him. The Lord that delivered me out of the paw
of the lion and the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this
Philistine."

For a moment Saul looked in silent awe at this brave young
warrior--then in a voice trembling with admiration and with emotion, he
said with solemn emphasis:

"Go, and the Lord be with thee."

And then roused by the contagion of David's fearless enthusiasm, and by
the excitement of trusting a mere boy to give battle to the great
Goliath, Saul, with his own hand, dressed David in his own suit of
armour for the encounter, giving him his heavy coat of mail, his
glittering brass helmet, and even bound his own sword at David's side.
At first David's delight was great that he was wearing the armour of a
real warrior. But when he tried to walk or run, the heavy coat of mail
hindered him and the weight of the sword and helmet made him feel like
a captive in chains, and at last he cast them off, saying to Saul:

"I cannot go with these."

And although Saul showed his consternation at this young champion of
the Israelites against Goliath, going to battle without armour or
sword, he made no attempt to persuade David into doing other than as he
desired. And David stood before him again, this time, wearing his
simple shepherd's dress, and feeling both free and happy again. Then
taking up his staff, he went to a near-by brook and from its bed picked
out five smooth white stones,--notice how careful he was to choose
smooth stones. These he put in a bag which hung at his side, and then
with only his sling in his hand, he advanced towards the giant, who
having heard that David had accepted his challenge, had advanced to
meet him in all his power and show of glittering armour and weapons.

Now Goliath had not heard of David's youth, and when he saw that his
adversary was only a fair strong boy, the giant grew scornful, and
seeing David's staff and sling, he shouted contemptuously in a voice
that rang from ridge to ridge, across the great