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The rising sun, darting an inquisitive bea, fell upon Beltane's wide, slow-heaving breast; crept upwards to his chin, his cheek, and finally strove to peep beneath his slumberous, close-shut lids; whereat Beltane stirred, yawned, threide and stretched his olden hair be-tousled, and stared sleepily about hi the leaves near by, the war-horse Mars sta; but Sir Fidelis was nowhere to be seen Thus in a while Beltane arose to find his leg very stiff and sore, and his throat be parched with feverish thirst; wherefore, li painfully, he turned where a little water-brook went singing o'er pebbly bed to join the slow- aside the leaves, he paused of a sudden, for there, beside the noisy strearass beside hi to bathe his face in the sparkling water

Noould he have called a greeting, but the words died upon his lips, his breath stayed, and he stared at soht's ht and wanton, kissed by the breath of early old in the new-risen sun So stood Beltane awhile, and, beholding this, a treer, and he strode forth of the leaves And lo! on the instant, on went hood ofbascinet, and Sir Fidelis arose But, ere he could turn, Beltane was beside hi a hand 'neath ht's head and scowled down into his face

Eyes long, black-lashed and darkly blue that looked up awhile into his, wide, yet fearless, and anon, were hid 'neath languorous-drooping lids; a nose tenderly aquiline, lips red and full that htway his anger grew

"Ah!" cried he, hoarsely, "now, by the living God, who art thou, and-- what?"

"Thy--co of one beyond all women false? Why dost thou speak me betimes in her voice, look at me with her eyes, touch me with her soft, white, traitor's hands--answer me!"

"My lord, we are akin, she and I--of the same house and blood--"

"Then is thy blood foul with treachery!"

"Yet did I save thy life, Beltane!"

"Yet thy soft voice, thy red mouth and false eyes--thy very blood--all these do prove thee traitor--hence!" and Beltane threw him off