exact time and place when you can gallop off, and lead your troop round against the right wing of the enemy, so as to attack them in the flank and rear. Such a champion as you are I have often wished to secure for exploits like these. God be with you, and may you sleep soundly this night, that you may come to me in the morning with a clear head and vigorous limbs; for our contest will be long and bloody.” Thereafter Sir Otto, with his heart heaving high within him, from anticipation of the honours which might next morning be won, retired through the passes of the camp towards his own soldiers. On the way he heard an old Swedish horseman say to his comrade,--“To-morrow we shall doubtless have a decisive battle.” “Wherefore do you think so?” said the other. “Why,” answered the veteran, “do you not observe the vultures and ravens, which fly in great numbers over the plain before us? Such gentry well know what they are about; and, moreover, there are eagles among them, which doubtless come in expectation of a royal banquet on the blood-stained heath.” Otto passed on, deeply meditating on these words; and would, indeed, have watched through the whole night, which now began to settle around him, but he recollected the admonitions of the prince, wrapt himself in his war-mantle, and, despite of the visions which confused his senses and perturbed his rest, he at last fell asleep. After a few hours the bright ruddy gleams of morning came slanting along the grass, and a blast was heard from the war-horns, reminding the soldiers that it was time for the riders to saddle their horses, and for the foot squires to make ready their bows and arrows. Otto, after a short space, had leapt into the saddle, paraded his squadron, and rode on with them to the place appointed on the left wing. There he once more selected the same youth with whom he had rode the race for their commander, and said,--“My brave Norman warriors, be contented here till I come to you again, and lead you on the glorious path to victory or death. Till my return you will ride here on the left wing of the army. On this give me your words of honour.”--“We pledge our lives, honour, and faith, to obey your commands,” answered the Normans; and thereafter Sir Otto galloped on to the centre of the forces, where the prince was already on horseback, surrounded by his most distinguished captains, and with many soldiers around him who knew how to blow the war-horn, with whose notes the woods and distant mountains now rung and echoed.--“You will remain by my side,” said the prince, with a friendly salutation, to Sir Otto, “though ere long I shall have occasion to send you farther. Do you now perceive the multitude opposite to us, whose numbers are every moment increasing, and pouring down like torrents from the mountain-cliffs on the plain? Do you hear how they roar and howl, like wild beasts? Whoever trusts merely to a direct attack on such an enemy, will fare but hardly, and indeed achieve little; for