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reign of Stanislaus Augustus； had； with his naked fist； beaten a
lion to death in three minutes； and alone had kept the postern of
Peterwaradin for two hours against seven hundred Turkish janissaries；
who were assailing it。 Those deeds which had made the heir of
Cleves famous were done thirty years syne。 A free liver since he
had come into his principality； and of a lazy turn； he had neglected
the athletic exercises which had made him in youth so famous a
champion； and indolence had borne its usual fruits。 He tried his
old battle…swordthat famous blade with which； in Palestine； he had
cut an elephant…driver in two pieces； and split asunder the skull of
the elephant which he rode。 Adolf of Cleves could scarcely now lift
the weapon over his head。 He tried his armor。 It was too tight for
him。 And the old soldier burst into tears； when he found he could
not buckle it。 Such a man was not fit to encounter the terrible
Rowski in single combat。
Nor could he hope to make head against him for any time in the
field。 The Prince's territories were small； his vassals
proverbially lazy and peaceable； his treasury empty。 The
dismallest prospects were before him： and he passed a sleepless
night writing to his friends for succor； and calculating with his
secretary the small amount of the resources which he could bring to
aid him against his advancing and powerful enemy。
Helen's pillow that evening was also unvisited by slumber。 She lay
awake thinking of Otto；thinking of the danger and the ruin her
refusal to marry had brought upon her dear papa。 Otto； too； slept
not： but HIS waking thoughts were brilliant and heroic： the noble
Childe thought how he should defend the Princess； and win LOS and
honor in the ensuing combat。
CHAPTER XII。
THE CHAMPION。
And now the noble Cleves began in good earnest to prepare his
castle for the threatened siege。 He gathered in all the available
cattle round the property； and the pigs round many miles； and a
dreadful slaughter of horned and snouted animals took place；the
whole castle resounding with the lowing of the oxen and the squeaks
of the gruntlings； destined to provide food for the garrison。
These； when slain； （her gentle spirit； of course； would not allow
of her witnessing that disagreeable operation；） the lovely Helen；
with the assistance of her maidens； carefully salted and pickled。
Corn was brought in in great quantities； the Prince paying for the
same when he had money； giving bills when he could get credit； or
occasionally； marry； sending out a few stout men…at…arms to forage；
who brought in wheat without money or credit either。 The charming
Princess； amidst the intervals of her labors； went about
encouraging the garrison； who vowed to a man they would die for a
single sweet smile of hers； and in order to make their inevitable
sufferings as easy as possible to the gallant fellows； she and the
apothecaries got ready a plenty of efficacious simples； and scraped
a vast quantity of lint to bind their warriors' wounds withal。 All
the fortifications were strengthened； the fosses carefully filled
with spikes and water； large stones placed over the gates；
convenient to tumble on the heads of the assaulting parties； and
caldrons prepared； with furnaces to melt up pitch； brimstone；
boiling oil； &c。； wherewith hospitably to receive them。 Having the
keenest eye in the whole garrison； young Otto was placed on the
topmost tower； to watch for the expected coming of the beleaguering
host。
They were seen only too soon。 Long ranks of shining spears were
seen glittering in the distance； and the army of the Rowski soon
made its appearance in battle's magnificently stern array。 The
tents of the renowned chief and his numerous warriors were pitched
out of arrow…shot of the castle； but in fearful proximity； and when
his army had taken up its position； an officer with a flag of truce
and a trumpet was seen advancing to the castle gate。 It was the
same herald who had previously borne his master's defiance to the
Prince of Cleves。 He came once more to the castle gate； and there
proclaimed that the noble Count of Eulenschreckenstein was in arms
without； ready to do battle with the Prince of Cleves； or his
champion； that he would remain in arms for three days； ready for
combat。 If no man met him at the end of that period； he would
deliver an assault； and would give quarter to no single soul in the
garrison。 So saying； the herald nailed his lord's gauntlet on the
castle gate。 As before； the Prince flung him over another glove
from the wall； though how he was to defend himself from such a
warrior； or get a champion； or resist the pitiless assault that
must follow； the troubled old nobleman knew not in the least。
The Princess Helen passed the night in the chapel； vowing tons of
wax…candles to all the patron saints of the House of Cleves； if
they would raise her up a defender。
But how did the noble girl's heart sinkhow were her notions of
the purity of man shaken within her gentle bosom； by the dread
intelligence which reached her the next morning； after the defiance
of the Rowski！ At roll…call it was discovered that he on whom she
principally reliedhe whom her fond heart had singled out as her
champion； had proved faithless！ Otto； the degenerate Otto； had
fled！ His comrade； Wolfgang； had gone with him。 A rope was found
dangling from the casement of their chamber； and they must have
swum the moat and passed over to the enemy in the darkness of the
previous night。 〃A pretty lad was this fair…spoken archer of
thine！〃 said the Prince her father to her； 〃and a pretty kettle of
fish hast thou cooked for the fondest of fathers。〃 She retired
weeping to her apartment。 Never before had that young heart felt
so wretched。
That morning； at nine o'clock； as they were going to breakfast； the
Rowski's trumpets sounded。 Clad in complete armor； and mounted on
his enormous piebald charger； he came out of his pavilion； and rode
slowly up and down in front of the castle。 He was ready there to
meet a champion。
Three times each day did the odious trumpet sound the same notes of
defiance。 Thrice daily did the steel…clad Rowski come forth
challenging the combat。 The first day passed； and there was no
answer to his summons。 The second day came and went； but no
champion had risen to defend。 The taunt of his shrill clarion
remained without answer； and the sun went down upon the wretchedest
father and daughter in all the land of Christendom。
The trumpets sounded an hour after sunrise； an hour after noon； and
an hour before sunset。 The third day came； but with it brought no
hope。 The first and second summons met no response。 At five
o'clock the old Prince called his daughter and blessed her。 〃I go
to meet this Rowski；〃 said he。 〃It may be we shall meet no more；
my Helenmy childthe innocent cause of all this grief。 If I
shall fall to…night the Rowski's victim； 'twill be that life is
nothing without honor。〃 And so saying； he put into her hands a
dagger； and bade her sheathe it in her own breast so soon as the
terrible champion had carried the castle by storm。
This Helen most faithfully promised to do； and her aged father
retired to his armory； and donned his ancient war…worn corselet。
It had borne the shock of a thousand lances ere this； but it was
now so tight as almost to choke the knightly wearer。
The last trumpet soundedtantara！ tantara！its shrill call rang
over the wide plains； and the wide plains gave back no answer。
Again！but when its notes died away； there was only a mournful； an
awful silence。 〃Farewell； my child；〃 said the Prince； bulkily
lifting himself into his battle…saddle。 〃Remember the dagger。
Hark！ the trumpet sounds for the third time。 Open； warders！
Sound； trumpeters！ and good St。 Bendigo guard the right。〃
But Puffendorff； the trumpeter； had not leisure to lift the trumpet
to his lips： when； hark！ from without there came another note of
another clarion！a distant note at first； then swelling fuller。
Presently； in brilliant variations； the full rich notes of the
〃Huntsman's Chorus〃 came clearly over the breeze； and a thousand
voices of the crowd gazing over the gate exclaimed； 〃A champion！ a
champion！〃
And； indeed； a champion HAD come。 Issuing from the forest came a
knight and squire： the knight gracefully cantering an elegant
cream…colored Arabian of prodigious powerthe squire mounted on an
unpretending gray cob； which； nevertheless； was an animal of
considerable strength and sinew。 It was the squire who blew the
trumpet； through the bars of his helmet； the knight's visor was
completely down。 A small prince's coronet of gold； from which rose
three pink ostrich…feathers； marked the warrior's rank： his blank
shield bore no cognizance。 As gracefully poising his lance he rode
into the green space where the Rowski's tents were pit