And turning to a soldier who came running up , waving his sword , he touched him with the magic lance , and he fell dead on the spot . The men who were following stood still , amazed . Their comrade 's armour had not been pierced , of that they were sure , yet he was dead , as if he had been struck to the heart . But before they had time to recover from their astonishment , Peronnik cried out : ` You see how my foes will fare ; now behold what I can do for my friends , ' and , stooping down , he laid the golden bowl against the mouth of the soldier , who sat up as well as ever . Then , jumping his horse across the trench , he entered the gate of the city , which had opened wide enough to receive him . The news of these marvels quickly spread through the town , and put fresh spirit into the garrison , so that they declared themselves able to fight under the command of the young stranger . And as the bowl restored all the dead Bretons to life , Peronnik soon had an army large enough to drive away the French , and fulfilled his promise of delivering his country . As to the bowl and the lance , no one knows what became of them , but some say that Bryak the sorcerer managed to steal them again , and that any one who wishes to possess them must seek them as Peronnik did . From ` Le Foyer Breton , ' par Emile Souvestre . The Battle of the Birds There was to be a great battle between all the creatures of the earth and the birds of the air . News of it went abroad , and the son of the king of Tethertown said that when the battle was fought he would be there to see it , and would bring back word who was to be king . But in spite of that , he was almost too late , and every fight had been fought save the last , which was between a snake and a great black raven . Both struck hard , but in the end the snake proved the stronger , and would have twisted himself round the neck of the raven till he died had not the king 's son drawn his sword , and cut off the head of the snake at a single blow . And when the raven beheld that his enemy was dead , he was grateful , and said : ` For thy kindness to me this day , I will show thee a sight . So come up now on the root of my two wings . ' The king 's son did as he was bid , and before the raven stopped flying , they had passed over seven bens and seven glens and seven mountain moors . ` Do you see that house yonder ? ' said the raven at last . ` Go straight for it , for a sister of mine dwells there , and she will make you right welcome . And if she asks , `` Wert thou at the battle of the birds ? ''
answer that thou wert , and XXXXX she asks , `` Didst thou see my likeness ? ''
across at between for if in of on over till