The Spell of Belgium

, The Giant

-a sort of raft of basket work covered with ox hides-was slowly following the ebb

tted the deep forests of Gaul, my native country; for thee have I left all, because o

s and my soul no longer knows any of the songs whispered by Ogmius, whom I worshiped in the forests-the god of the b

was heard, like unto the autumn wind rushing through the branches of an old, decayed forest; the bubbling of the waters came nearer, and the breathing grew stronger. Then by the

like that of a horse, rough and black. He looked like those isolated peaks which are sometimes seen on the borders of the ocean, with their frowning crests from which the long, trailing grass h

es of Antigon are closed to allow you to pass in the dark!

o Atuix who silently dr

h to speak to me, then swell out

er," replied Atuix, "and if thou art not a god,

n the name of the great Hesus of

their stature no higher than yours, fine race of weaklings, of whom I could trample a whole army under my feet? Ah! thy gods, I should long ere this

said Atuix, "thou who

u owest me for passing on my river-thou didst think, favoured by the darkness, to deceive me, and now thou wouldst

Atuix," she exclaimed. "Oh! mercy! what harm can our passing this river do to thee, we feeble and without a

ast thou learnt that I have a soul? Who has ever seen a soul? Oh, I tell thee truly tha

ous laugh. The giant picked up the bloody hand and threw it into the river. Then, just as he was about to seize Frega, who had dropped senseless, Atuix freed from the frightful claws

infully on her knees and saw at some distance from her a horrible sight. The furious giant was crushing the body of Atuix between his hands. Frega dragged herself to the edge of the boat, her eyes fixed, her face ashy pale, she with diff

of the legion of the vanguard followed the banks of the river, guided, it is said, by a mysterious being. Twice the sun had sunk to rest without their returning. German horsemen sent on their track towards the middle of the night were stopped at the sight of a strange spectacle. Raging flames agitated by the wind were devouring the foundations of a tower which had protected a castle of colossal proportions. The ground was lit by the glare of the fire and strewn with the dead bodies of the Roman soldiers. In the midst of them, on a mound o

leeding and sweet to look upon!-Yes, it was on a summer night, two lovers floated together on the river. Oh! thy den was not as bright as this night-Two lovers thou knowest!-two lovers who only spoke of love, their hearts filled with gentle thoughts. Look, look,

sed forever. He was dead. Frega knelt on the ground and prayed. Upon that spot rose Antwerp. Now Antwerp is the Antwerpen of the ancient Flemish language, which still preserves its original st