No," continued Pandulfo, "nor would any one, but such a craven, as our gallant chief would spurn from his band! Be just, noble Wolfstein, and confess that Rufo could not refuse to answer the fair one's pledge."

Pandulfo conquered; for his post and his character made him powerful in the castle he undertook to seek the angry Rufo, and persuade him to apologise to his chief, which was performed, but as reluctantly and with as much brevity as possible, a mutual scowl accompanying the cold touch of each other's hand. Zanina was sent sobbing to her apartment, and the Chevalier harboured, in his dark bosom, the resolution of shortly making himself fatal amends for this forced reconciliation. But he was disappointed, for the following day, when the inmates of the castle assembled at the feast, no Rufo, no Zanina appeared; a vain search was made, and ended in the conviction that they were fled together, an event which

gave Wolfstein heavier and more disquieting cause for meditation than the mere loss of a fickle courtezan, or a presumptuous and fiery dependant, since the latter bore with him many a danger

ous secret.

CHAPTER VIII.

"Such men have been, of whom it may be said Their spirits conquer'd when their clay was cold." Joanna Baillie.

It was on the night of November the 15th, that the fierce and arduous struggle between Gustavus of Sweden, the lion of the North, and the scarcely less celebrated commander of the forces of the empire, arrived at the eve of its crisis. The Duke of Friedland, by the aid of Fieramosca, had discovered that the Anareta, or planet of death, in the nativity of his illustrious rival, pointed to November, and had, therefore, by many a masterly and skilful manœuvre, contrived to protract this great personal trial to this period. An impenetrable fog covered the eventful morning of the 16th, and not till noon, when the sun shone

forth in his splendor, was this natural curtain withdrawn, when two vast armies were discovered drawn up in order of battle on each side the high road which skirts the plain of Lutzen. The scene was inconceivably grand and awfulGustavus gave out, in a loud voice, the 40th Psalm, "God is our refuge and strength," which was sung by the whole army, accompanied by military music, and then led forward his troops. Both sides fought with unparalleled desperation, being animated by every art of their respective leaders; but the imperialists being seasonably reinforced by the return of General Pappenheim's wing, which had been detached on some distant expedition, the Swedes were repulsed frequently, while their magnanimous sovereign, with the most heroic resolution, as frequently rallied and led them back. Thus the fate of the conflict continued some time in suspense; but Gustavus perceiving that his left gave ground be

This

fore the fire of the Imperialists, attended by the Duke of Saxe Lauenburgh, and a party of horsemen, galloped towards the shrinking wing. In the midst of his career, he encountered a few imperial horse, led by a youth, who seemed resolved to push them wherever glory tempted or danger threatened. youth dashed into the midst of the Swedes, and called loudly on the monarch to surrender, but Gustavus raising his pistol to fire on the assailant, was, by one of the Austrians, shot in the arm, while the bullet of his first antagonist, nearly at the same moment, entered his breast, and he fell from his saddle, exclaiming, "My God! my God!" while the few Swedes, by whom he was immediately surrounded, were seized with panic, and joined the main body on a gallop, carrying with them the mournful and discouraging news of the fall of the royal hero. The hussar, by whom the fatal shot was fired, threw himself from his horse, and cried urgently