Page 454 - Child's own book

As soon as St. George had read this, he put the trumpet to
hia mouth* and blew it so loud, that the veiy castle seemed to
shake. The bridge now dropped, and the gates flew open. The
champions tied their horses at the foot of the bridge, and re­
solved to force their passage into the castle. On entering, the
champions found themselves in darkness; but on their coming to
the top of a flight of stairs, the darkness vanished, and they beheld
Leoger* with his necromaucer, and several giants, standing on the
roof of tin* palacc. Twelve giants now came down to attack the
strangers; hut after a bloody battle, they were all killed or
wounded. The necromancer then had recourse to magic; and
formed a phantom in the shape of a beautiful woman, who
seemed to stand in a mournful posture, within an iron grate,
with her face hathrd in tears. W hile the knights were looking
at this lady, they felt several heavy blows ; and, turning to see
from whence they came, they saw armed men running into the
castle at a little wicket. Being resolved to avenge themselves
on these cowardly enemies, they pursued them ; but as soon as
they entered the wicket, they all fell into a dungeon paved with
human bones. After gToping about for some time, they found a
bed, upon which six of them lay down in order to rest them­
selves; but the room being enchanted they all fell into a sound
sleep, from which St. George could not awake them. Soon
after this, the magician came into the dungeon in a most dread­
ful form, his hair looking like a number of snakes, an<l his
breath being like flames of fire. St, George drew his sword,
and soon forced him to retire. As soon as this foe was gone, a
new one came in the shape of a monstrous dragon; but the
English champion attacked it with such fury, that it soon took
to flight. St. George ran after the dragon through the vaults
and arched passages, till on a sudden he found himself at the
entrance of a laTge hall, lighted up by seven crystal lamps, and