The Beacon Fire.

was his only child ancl the pride and joy of his heart , would on no account permit him to be exempted from the stern discipline and training to which the other youths under his command were subjected ; and so it came to pass that since it was his turn to watch the beacon , Leofwine must go , no matter though it was Yule Eve or that he was Denewulf ' s son . But no hardship did the young Saxon deem it . Waiting but to arm

himself , he quitted the castle and lightly trod the pathway along the cliffs ; hounding up the steep , narrow stone stairway , he soon gained the summit of the tower . Wide , indeed , was the view that met his gaze . Twilight was fast deepening into night ; the distant coast-line of Gaul , generally visible from the beacon , had faded away into the mists that hovered over the sea . Far down below , at the foot of the cliff , the breakers gleamed white ancl ghostly ;

thick clouds , driven by a shrilly whistling wind , obscured the heavens . But little recked light-hearted Leofwine of wind or cloud : drawing his thick cloak around him he tramped to and fro on his limited beat , rather enjoying the keen freshness of the winter air and the wild dreariness of the scene around . Hour after hour passed on ; the night was dark , save for an occasional glimpse of moonlight that struggled through the drifting mist aud clouds , and the wind still moaned in fitful gusts , as if foretelling a coming tempest . Being the Eve of the Nativity , the monks were keeping a vigil in the little church at the foot of the tower , and the sound of the holy chants

was borne ,-mingled with the sigh of the wind and the dash of the waves , to the ear of the young sentinel above . About three hours had passed since midnight , when Leofwine , leaning over the parapet ancl gazing across the sea , was startled at seeing a small boat shoot suddenly out of the mist and make for the shore . Scarcely had he time to wonder at its appearance , when the moon broke through the clouds , and shining for a moment in a comparatively clear piece of skyrevealed to Leofwine ' s quick eye a group of Danish galleyswhich

, , , under cover of the mist ancl darkness , were stealthily moving onwards , evidently making for the land . So silent and shadowy did they appear , however , that when the moon withdrew her light as suddenly as she had bestowed it , the hostile armament had passed away , vanishing like a vision into the mist . But Leofwine knew it was more than a vision ; he had caught the glint of spears ancl helmets , packed closely together in the vessels , and he knew

that if he did not give the alarm the invaders would soon be upon the unsuspecting inhabitants of Kent ; so he caught up some fuel and hastened to kindle the beacon . " Thou saidst well , oh , my father ; Leofwine shall not be found neglecting his duty , " murmured the young sentinel , as he was in the act of lighting a torch , but the now rapidly rising wind extinguished the flickering flame repeatedly . At last it caughtbut ere he could applit to the fuel

, y it was suddenly dashed from his hand by some unseen power behind . Turning in amazement , Leofwine beheld a tall form , in warlike accoutrements , standing beside him . " Who art thou , ancl how earnest thou hither ? " cried the startled youth .

" Do as I shall bid thee . Make no resistance , refrain from giving the alarm , and I swear thy life shall be spared ; resist , ancl I hurl the from this tower . " Leofwine snatched up the pine-torch flaring at his feet and surveyed his unexpected foe by its glowing light , but the object of his scrutiny shrank back into the shadow , like some ill-omened night-bird that shuns the day , and his eyes sought the ground like one ashamed . It was Red Sweyn , the false . Like lightning it flashed across the mind of Leofwine that the solitary

boat he had seen contained the traitor who now stood before him . " I know thee , faithless one ! " cried the young Saxon , with scorn ; " thou art Red Sweyn ! thou alone , of all thy Danish horde , knowest the secret path up this precipitous cliff , and the fastening of the tower door ; doubtless thou thoughtest to surprise us into an easy defeat in this darkness , and to , find in me one as willing as thyself to desert this post ; but thou art mistaken , traitor will I never be ! "