St. Nicholas Magazine for Boys and Girls, Vol. 5, September 1878, No. 11 | Page 7

the princess and the ladies of the court; and they hated
him more as the favorite of the king. So they conferred together how to
punish him for his good fortune, and at length formed a plan which
they thought would serve their ends.
It must be understood that King Dagobert was at that time engaged in a

war with King Crimball, who reigned over an adjoining kingdom, and
that the armies of the two kings now lay within thirty miles of the forest,
and were about to give each other battle. As Sir Ranier, it was supposed,
had never been bred to feats of arms, they thought if they could get him
in the field, he would so disgrace himself as to lose the favor of the
king and the court dames, or be certainly slain. For these lords knew
nothing of the adventure of the king in the forest,--all those in the
conspiracy having been slain,--and thought that Ranier had either
rendered some trifling service to the king, or in some way had pleased
the sovereign's fancy. So when the king and some of the great lords of
the court were engaged in talking of the battle that was soon to be
fought, one of the conspirators, named Dyvorer, approached them, and
said:
"Why not send Sir Ranier there, sire; for he is, no doubt, a brave and
accomplished knight, and would render great service?"
The king was angry at this, for he knew that Ranier had not been bred
to arms, and readily penetrated the purpose that prompted the
suggestion. Before he could answer, however, Sir Ranier, who had
heard the words of Dyvorer, spoke up and said:
"I pray you, sire, to let me go; for, though I may not depend much upon
my lance and sword, I have an ax that never fails me."
Then the king remembered of the marvelous feats which he had seen
Ranier perform in his behalf, and he replied:
"You shall go, Sir Ranier; and as the Lord Dyvorer has made a
suggestion of such profit, he shall have the high honor of attending as
one of the knights in your train, where he will, doubtless, support you
well."
At this, the rest laughed, and Dyvorer was much troubled, for he was a
great coward. But he dared not refuse obedience.
The next morning, Sir Ranier departed along with the king for the field
of battle, bearing his ax with him; and, when they arrived, they found

both sides drawn up in battle order, and waiting the signal to begin.
Before they fell to, a champion of the enemy, a knight of fortune from
Bohemia, named Sir Paul, who was over seven feet in height, and a
very formidable soldier, who fought as well with his left hand as with
his right, rode forward between the two armies, and defied any knight
in King Dagobert's train to single combat.
Then said Dyvorer: "No doubt, here is a good opportunity for Sir
Ranier to show his prowess."
"Be sure that it is!" exclaimed Sir Ranier; and he rode forward to
engage Sir Paul.
When the Bohemian knight saw only a stripling, armed with a
woodman's ax, he laughed. "Is this girl their champion, then?" he asked.
"Say thy prayers, young sir, for thou art not long for this world, I
promise thee."
But Ranier whispered to himself, "I want me this braggart hewn to
pieces, and then the rest beaten;" and added, aloud: "Ax! ax! chop!
chop! and work for my profit!" Whereupon the ax leapt forward, and
dealt such a blow upon Sir Paul that it pierced through his helmet, and
clave him to the saddle. Then it went chopping among the enemy with
such force that it cut them down by hundreds; and King Dagobert with
his army falling upon them, won a great victory.
Now the magic of the ax followed it here as before, and every
looker-on believed he saw Sir Ranier slaying his hundreds. So it
chanced when the battle was over, and those were recalled who pursued
the enemy, that a group of knights, and the great lords of the court who
were gathered around the king, and were discussing the events of the
day, agreed as one man, that there never had been a warrior as potent as
Sir Ranier since the days of Roland, and that he deserved to be made a
great lord. And the king thought so, too. So he created him a baron on
the field, and ordered his patent of nobility to be made out on their
return, and gave him castles and land; and, furthermore, told him he
would grant him any favor more he chose to ask, though it were half
the kingdom.

When Dyvorer and others heard this, they