being so great as to excite a feeling of wonder at the ability of the animal to carry so heavy a burden. It does not reach its full development until its fourteenth year. The muzzle is very large and is much lengthened in front, so as to impart a most unique expression to the elk's countenance. The color of the animal is a dark brown, the legs being washed with a yellow hue. It is a native of Northern Europe and America, the moose of the latter continent and the elk of the former being one and the same species.

2. As the flesh of the elk is palatable, and the skin and the horns extremely useful, the animal is much persecuted by hunters. It is a swift and enduring animal, although its gait is clumsy and awkward in the extreme. The only pace of the elk is a long, swinging trot; but its legs are so long and its paces so considerable, that its speed is much greater than it appears to be. Obstacles that are almost impassable to a horse are passed over easily by the elk, which has been known to trot uninterruptedly over a number of fallen treetrunks, some of them five feet in thickness.

3. When the ground is hard and will bear the weight of so large an animal, the hunters are led a very long and severe chase before they come up with their prey; but when the snow lies soft and thick on the ground, the creature soon succumbs to its lighter antagonists, who invest themselves in snow-shoes, and scud over the soft snow with a speed that speedily overcomes that of the poor elk, which sinks floundering into the deep snow-drifts at every step, and is soon worn out by its useless efforts.

4. It is as wary as any of the deer tribe, being alarmed by the slightest sound or the faintest scent that gives warning of an enemy, As the elk trots along, its course is marked by a succession of sharp sounds, which are produced by the snapping of the cloven hoofs, which separate at every step, and fall together as the animal raises its foot from the ground.

5. Generally, the elk avoids the presence of man, but in some seasons of the year it becomes seized with a violent excitement, that finds vent in fighting with every living creature that may cross his path. Its weapons are his horns and fore-feet, the latter being used with such terrible effect that a single blow is sufficient to slay a wolf on the spot. The enormous horns form no barrier to its progress through the woods, for, when the elk runs, it always throws its horns well back upon its shoulders, so that they rather assist than impede it in traversing the forest glades. The elk is a capital swimmer, proceeding with great rapidity, and often taking to the water for its own amusement. During the summer months of the year it spends a considerable portion of its time under water, its nose and horns being the only parts of its form which appear above the surface. Even the very young moose is a strong and fearless swimmer.

6. The skin of the elk is extremely thick, and has been manufactured into clothing that would resist a sword blow and repel an ordinary pistol ball. The flesh is sometimes dressed fresh, but is generally smoked like hams, and is much esteemed. The large muzzle, or upper lip, is, however, the principal object of admiration to the lovers of elk flesh, and is said to be rich and gelatinous when boiled, resembling the celebrated green fat of the turtle.

7. When captured young, the elk is very susceptible of domestication, and in a few hours will learn to distinguish its keeper, and to follow him about with playful confidence. If, however, the animal has attained to a moderate growth, it becomes fierce, surly, and dangerous. "In the middle of the night," says Audubon, speaking of a young captive elk, 66 we were awakened by a great noise in the hovel, and found that, as it had in some measure recovered from its terror and state of exhaustion, it began to think of getting home, and was much enraged at finding itself so securely imprisoned. We were unable to do anything with it, for if we merely

approached our hands to the opening of the hut, it would spring at us with the greatest fury, roaring and erecting its mane in a manner that convinced us of the futility of all attempts to save it alive. We threw to it the skin of a deer, which it tore to pieces in a moment. This individual was a yearling, and about six feet high.”

8. By careful attention, however, and good training, the elk can be used as a beast of carriage or burden, and from its great size and power is extremely valuable in that capacity.

Wood.

CXVII. HARMOSAN.

con'-flict, contest; battle; Kampf.

val'-or, bravery; Tapferkeit.

cap'-tive, a prisoner taken in war; Kriegsgefangener.
foe'-man, an enemy in war; Feind.

ca ́-liph, a successor of Mohamed; Kalif.

re-prieve', a delay; Frist; Aufschub.

sa'-trap, a Persian governor of a province; Satrap.

1. Now the third and fatal conflict

For the Persian throne was done,
And the Moslem's fiery valor
Had the crowning victory won.

2. Harmosan, the last and boldest
The invador to defy,

Captive, overborne by numbers,
They were bringing forth to die.

3. Then exclaimed that noble captive:
"Lo, I perish in my thirst;

Give me but one drink of water,

And let then arrive the worst!"

4. In his hand he took the goblet;
But awhile the draught forbore,
Seeming doubtfully the purpose
Of the foeman to explore.

5. Well might then have paused the bravest― For, around him, angry foes,

With a hedge of naked weapons,

Did that lonely man inclose.

6. "But what fear'st thou?" cried the caliph; "Is it, friend, a secret blow?

Fear it not! our gallant warriors

No such treacherous dealing know.

7. "Thou may'st quench thy thirst securely, For thou shalt not die before

Thou hast drunk that cup of water

This reprieve is thine-no more!" 8. Quick the satrap dashed the goblet Down to earth with ready hand, And the liquid sank forever,

Lost amid the burning sand.

9. "Thou hast said that mine my life is,
Till the water of that cup

I have drained; then bid thy servants
That spilled water gather up!"

10. For a moment stood the caliph

As by doubtful passions stirred-
Then exclaimed: "Forever sacred
Must remain a hero's word.

11. "Bring another cup, and straightway
To the noble Persian give :
Drink, I said before, and perish-
Now I bid thee drink and live!"

R. C. Trench.

CXVIII.-PILOTS.

Downs, a well known anchorage ground in the English Chan

nel, near Deal.

haz'-ard, danger; Gefahr.

re-mu-ner-a-tion, reward; Belohnung.

li'-cense, permission; Erlaubnis.

pier, a landing place; Hafendamm.

in-cum-brance, hindrance; burden; Beschwerlichkeit.

hal'-liard, a rope for hoisting sails; Ziehtau.

suc'-cor, aid; Hilfe.

in-tel'-li-gi-ble, plain; clear; verständlich.

craft, a vessel; Schiff; Fahrzeug.

haws'-er, a large rope; Ziehseil.

thwart, a bench in a boat on which the rowers sit; Ruderbank. taut, tight; straff.

1. Homeward-bound ships, on reaching their native land, frequently experience much difficulty in getting a pilot on board when most needed, which is the case on making land during a heavy gale.

2. A pilot's duty is a very dangerous one, and it is necessary they should be both bold and fearless men who undertake it, as they have to go off to ships when the signal is made for them, let the state of the weather be what it may, although sometimes it is too bad for the most daring to attempt; but this does not often happen. I will tell you a story about a pilot going off to a frigate in distress, during a gale, which will show the difficulties that can be overcome by experience and courage combined.

3. Early one morning, during a tremendous gale, a frigate, bound for Chatham, had advanced up the Channel as far as Dover; when, from the shattered and disabled state of the vessel, her captain deemed it prudent on his part to make the signal for a pilot, to take her through the Downs, and into the mouth of the river Thames, in safety. The frigate, being also in a leaky state, had a signal of distress flying the Union Jack hoisted upside down.