miles distant from the spot. Towards the approach of day, the noise in some measure subsided; long before objects were distinguishable, the pigeons began to move off in a direction quite different from that in which they had arrived the evening before, and at sunrise all that were able to fly had disappeared.

cir'-cum-stan-ces im-mense'

in-clined'

as-sure'

pro-ceed'-ed

tend' en-cy

re-late', tell.

a-maze'-ment, wonder.

en-tice'

Audubon.

as-cer-tained'

neigh'-bour-hood ap-pear-ance mag-ni'-fi-cent

O-hi'-o, a river of America, which
flows into the Mississippi.

in-clin-a'-tion, desire.
em'-in-ence, height.
ob-scured', darkened.
e-clipse', the darkening of the light

of the sun, moon, or stars, by
some other heavenly body
coming between it and the
observer.

re-pose', rest; sleep.
con'-flu-ence, the flowing together,
or place of meeting of two
rivers.

in-of-fec'-tu-al, of no use; powerless.
re-ports', sound of a gun being fired.
a-ër'-i-al e-vol-u'-tions, movements
in the air.
ve-lo'-ci-ty, swiftness.
per-pen-dic-u-lar-ly, straight up
and down.

az'-ure, blue like a cloudless sky.

sim-ul-tan'-e-ous-ly, all at the same time.

an-on', very soon; immediately. in-dus'-tri-ous-ly, diligently. quest, search.

mast, the fruit of the oak, beech, or chestnut.

ap-par'-ent dim-in-u'-tion, noticeable lessening.

hor-i'-zon, the line where the earth

and sky seem to meet. en masse, in a body; all together. sub'-se-quent, afterwards.

di-am-e-ter, measure through or

across.

tor-na'-do, violent storm of wind.
con-cep'-tion, thinking about.
close-reefed' ves'-sel; the sails of a

ship are close-reefed' when
portions of them are rolled or
folded up to escape the vio-
lence of the wind.

sub-sid'-ed, lessened.

dis-tin'-guish-a-ble, easily seen.

EXERCISES.-1. The Saxon prefix fore- means before; as foresee, to see before; foretell, to tell before.

2. Analyse and parse the following: 'As soon as the pigeons discover food enough to entice them to alight, they fly round in circles, reviewing the country below.'

3. Make sentences of your own, and use in each one or more of the following words: Obscure, repose, subsequent, subside.

FITZ-JAMES AND RODERICK DHU—I.

[This extract is from Scott's well-known poem, The Lady of the Lake. James V. of Scotland has been out hunting, under the name of Fitz-James, in the region around Loch Katrine in Perthshire. He is separated from his followers, and loses himself among the mountains; but meets Roderick Dhu, a Highland chief and rebel, who offers to conduct him part of the way back to Stirling. The Highland chieftain calls up some of his clansmen, in order to show what the fate of Fitz-James would have been without his guidance and protection.]

1. So toilsome was the road to trace,
The guide, abating of his pace,

Led slowly through the pass's jaws,

And asked Fitz-James by what strange cause
He sought these wilds, traversed by few,
Without a pass from Roderick Dhu.

2. 'Brave Gael, my pass, in danger tried,
Hangs in my belt and by my side;
Yet, sooth to tell,' the Saxon said,
'I dreamt not now to claim its aid.
When here, but three days since, I came,
Bewildered in pursuit of game,
All seemed as peaceful and as still
As the mist slumbering on yon hill;
Thy dangerous chief was then afar,
Nor soon expected back from war.
Thus said, at least, my mountain-guide,
Though deep, perchance, the villain lied.'

3. 'Yet why a second venture try?'
'A warrior thou, and ask me why!
Moves our free course by such fixed cause
As gives the poor mechanic laws?
Enough, I sought to drive away
The lazy hours of peaceful day:

Slight cause will then suffice to guide
A knight's free footsteps far and wide-
A falcon flown, a greyhound strayed,
The merry glance of mountain maid;
Or, if a path be dangerous known,
The danger's self is lure alone.'

4. Thy secret keep: I urge thee not;
Yet, ere again ye sought this spot,
Hadst thou sent warning fair and true-
"I seek my hound or falcon strayed,
I seek, good faith, a Highland maid ❞—
Free hadst thou been to come and go;
But secret path marks secret foe.'

5. 'Well, let it pass; nor will I now
Fresh cause of enmity avow,

To chafe thy mood and cloud thy brow:
Enough, I am by promise tied

To match me with this man of pride.
Twice have I sought Clan-Alpine's glen
In peace; but when I come again,
I come with banner, brand, and bow,
As leader seeks his mortal foe.
For love-lorn swain in lady's bower
Ne'er panted for the appointed hour
As I, until before me stand

This rebel chieftain and his band.'

6. 'Have, then, thy wish!' He whistled shrill, And he was answered from the hill:

Wild as the scream of the curlew,
From crag to crag the signal flew.
Instant, through copse and heath, arose
Bonnets and spears and bended bows;

On right, on left, above, below,
Sprung up, at once, the lurking foe;
From shingles gray their lances start;
The bracken bush sends forth the dart;
The rushes and the willow-wand
Are bristling into axe and brand;
And every tuft of broom gives life
To plaided warrior armed for strife.
That whistle garrisoned the glen
At once with full five hundred men,
As if the yawning hill to heaven
A subterranean host had given.

7. Watching their leader's beck and will,
All silent there they stood, and still,
Like the loose crags whose threatening mass
Lay tottering o'er the hollow pass,
As if an infant's touch could urge
Their headlong passage down the verge;
With step and weapon forward flung,
Upon the mountain-side they hung.
The Mountaineer cast glance of pride
Along Benledi's living side,

Then fixed his eye and sable brow

Full on Fitz-James-How say'st thou now?
These are Clan-Alpine's warriors true;

And, Saxon-I am Roderick Dhu!'

EXERCISES.-1. The Saxon prefix (1) mis- means ill, wrong; as misbehave, to behave ill; misplace, to put in the wrong place; misdeed, an ill deed; misconduct, bad conduct. (2) n means not, as never, not ever; none, not one.

2. Analyse and parse the first four lines of stanza 7.

3. Make sentences of your own, and use in each one or more of the following words: Traverse, bewildered, misbehave, misplace.

FITZ-JAMES AND RODERICK DHU—II.
1. Fitz-James was brave. Though to his heart
The life-blood thrilled with sudden start,
He manned himself with dauntless air,
Returned the Chief his haughty stare;
His back against a rock he bore,
And firmly placed his foot before :—
'Come one, come all! this rock shall fly
From its firm base as soon as I.'
Sir Roderick marked-and in his eyes
Respect was mingled with surprise,
And the stern joy which warriors feel
In foeman worthy of their steel.

2. Short space he stood-then waved his hand:
Down sunk the disappearing band;

Each warrior vanished where he stood,
In broom or bracken, heath or wood