THE RESCUE. out 59

bim,’ exclaimed the knight. ‘ Never have I witnessed
a bolder attempt.’

As the knight spoke, a loud cheer burst from the
crowd; and then there was silence. Walter drew
nearer and nearer to the woman, for whose life he
was freely venturing his own. In another minute
he clutched her with one hand, turned towards the
shore, and, favoured by the tide, came sailing towards
the spot which the crowd occupied.

A dozen of the men dashed knee-deep into the

water to relieve Walter of his burden; and as they
did so, a dozen of the women stretched out their
hands, and received the still unconscious form of
her who had been rescued ; meanwhile the knight and
Guy Muschamp caught hold of Walter, who, fatigued
and overcome with his almost superhuman exertions,
~ would otherwise have fallen to the ground. How-
ever they laid him down carefully to rest; and, while
Guy stood watching over him, Bisset went to look to
the safety of the damsel who had been rescued.

‘Sir squire,’ said he, with enthusiasm, as he re-
turned, ‘you have done as noble a deed as it has ever
been my fate to witness, and the King of France shall
hear of it, as I am a living man; and,’ continued he, in
a whisper, ‘hearken! you may at the same time con-
eratulate yourself on having a the good luck to
save a woman well worth saving.’

‘What mean you, sir knight, asked Walter,
Lays

‘Simply this— that she is young, fair to behold,
and evidently of high lineage.’