The King of France soon gathered an army and invaded Britain.  The two ungrateful daughters and their husbands were killed, King Lear was restored to his throne, and when he died Cordelia succeeded him in the kingdom.

[Illustration:  King Lear.]

THE BRITISH MASTIFFS.

When the Romans invaded Britain they found that the natives had a breed of large fierce dogs, who would fight bravely for their masters; these animals they called pugnaces, or fighting dogs, and from them the modern English mastiff is descended.

Soon after the conquest of the island some of the British mastiffs were sent to Rome, where their sagacity, strength and courage excited so much admiration, that an imperial officer was appointed to reside in Britain for the express purpose of selecting the finest dogs to fight with other animals for the amusement of the vast crowds assembled in the Colosseum.  The strongest dogs previously known to the Romans were the Molossian dogs of Epirus, which in their native country were trained by their masters to fight in battle, but when they were matched against the British mastiffs they were thoroughly beaten.  The dogs of Britain were then pitted against various wild beasts; and it was said that three of them were a match for a bear and four for a lion.  And so famous were they for courage, that the Gauls imported them, and trained them for war, and used them in their battles.

The British mastiff is no longer trained to fight in battle, but his character for sagacity and fidelity as well as courage, is as high as it was in the days of the Romans.

[Illustration:  Ancient British Soldier and mastiff.]

ON THE LAKES IN A STORM.

Some minutes before sunrise we went aboard our boat and took our places for a long pull up the lakes.  There were two sets of rowlocks, with oars to match.  Fred took one pair and Farr the other.  Spot lay down on Farr’s coat behind his master.  I took the stern seat and steering oar.  Scott had the bow seat and a paddle.

“All ready!” cried Fred, cheerily.  “Give way! one, two, three, and away we go!”

By the time we were fairly out on the lake there was quite a “sea.”

We made for Birch Island.  The swells threw us about amazingly.  There is much strength and friskiness in these fresh-water surges.  Those were wild moments.  Fred, Farr and Scott were pulling with might and main.  The spray flew over us; the spatters drenched us.  I expected every moment that we should be swamped.  And as we drew near the island our case seemed not much improved.  The waves broke against it fiercely.

“It won’t do to let her run on there!” exclaimed Farr.  “It will swamp her.”

“Yes,” said Fred; “but it is not deep water.  Sit still and pull till I give the word, then jump out, everybody, and ease her ashore.