endowed with such magical powers that it would make the leap with ease. And besides myriads of fairies would be hovering around, invisible to all eyes except Maghar’s, and these would help to keep up his courage. As for getting the horse up the castle stairs that was easily managed. Maghar had only to play an air on the flute, and the horse would follow him up stairs or down. This was the plan of the fairies. Christern was appalled when he heard it. But Maghar embraced it at once. It was better, he told Christern, to be dashed to pieces at the bottom of the abyss than to suffer the slow torture of starvation. The old man and the fairy, being in fear of discovery, made the interview as short as possible. They returned to the postern door, the fairy went outside through the loop-hole, gave his signal, and again the wonderful cocks appeared on the hill. This time they sang a merry song, and kept time to the music with their feet. Again the sentinels were charmed into deserting their posts, and Christern and the fairy got safely away. Maghar had his talk with the guards, and, by the next afternoon, everybody in the castle, from the governor to the stable boys, had heard of his great boast about the leap. Everything turned out just as the fairy had said. The governor, and his officers, glad to have some sport, proposed to Maghar that he should make good his boast. They felt certain he would be killed, and in that way they would happily be rid of him. But they did not tell him this. He agreed to the proposition, without manifesting any eagerness, but stipulated that he should have food, and drink to strengthen him, and that his sword and armor should be restored to him. These requests were granted. It was no longer necessary to starve him as he was to be killed another way. The good magician had the horse ready for the messengers. The animal knew exactly what was expected of him; and, when Maghar was led down by his guards to the yard to see the steed, it rubbed its head against his shoulders as if glad to see him, which action convinced the spectators that the two were old acquaintances, whereas they had never seen each other until that moment. It was a powerfully-built horse, of a roan color, with bright, intelligent eyes, and a flowing mane, and tail of pure white. Everybody admired it, and the next day the battlements of the castle were crowded with people to witness the daring feat of horsemanship. The top of the northern tower was left clear for the horse and rider. The top of the southern tower was reserved for the governor, and his officers. These remained below, at first, to witness the ascent of the stairs, which, in itself, was a remarkable thing for a horse to do. Maghar walked up the stairs playing an inspiriting air on the flute, and the horse followed him readily but slowly up the long and winding ascent, to the very top of the northern tower. [Illustration: “THE HORSE STUMBLED ON THE NARROW BATTLEMENT.”]