jumping into a boat, he, by strength of oars, gained the middle of the river, brought his boat under the pile, and the whole family safely descended by means of a rope.  By a still more strenuous effort, and great strength of arm, he brought the boat and family to shore.  “Brave fellow!” exclaimed the count, handing the purse to him, “here is your recompense.”  “I shall never expose my life for money,” answered the peasant; “my labour is a sufficient livelihood for myself, my wife, and children.  Give the purse to this poor family, who have lost their all.”

This incident has been admirably worked up in a German ballad by Buerger (see the “Song of the Brave Man,” in “Popular Ballads.”)

Countess de St. Belmont.—­When M. de St. Belmont, who defended a feeble fortress against the arms of Louis XIV., was taken prisoner, his wife, the Comtesse de St. Belmont, who was of a most heroic disposition, still remained upon the estates to take care of them.  An officer of cavalry having taken up his quarters there without invitation, Madame de St. Belmont sent him a very civil letter of complaint on his ill behaviour, which he treated with contempt.  Piqued at this, she resolved he should give her satisfaction, and sent him a challenge, which she signed “Le Chevalier de St. Belmont.”  The officer accepted it, and repaired to the place appointed.  Madame de St. Belmont met him, dressed in men’s clothes.  They immediately drew their swords, and the heroine had the advantage of him; when, after disarming him, she said, with a gracious smile, “You thought, sir, I doubt not, that you were fighting with the Chevalier de St. Belmont; it is, however, Madame de St. Belmont, who returns you your sword, and begs you in future to pay more regard to the requests of ladies.”  She then left him, covered with shame and confusion.

French Peasant Girl.—­One evening early in 1858, Melanie Robert, daughter of a small farmer, near Corbeil, was proceeding to Essonnes, when a man armed with a stout stick suddenly presented himself, and summoned her to give up her money.  Pretending to be greatly alarmed, she hastily searched her pocket, and collecting some small pieces of coin held them out to the man, who without distrust approached to take them.  But the moment he took the money, Melanie made a sudden snatch at the stick, and wresting it from his hand, dealt him so violent a blow with it across the head that she felled him to the ground.  She then gave him a sound thrashing, and, in spite of his resistance, forced him to accompany her to the office of the commissary of police, by whom he was committed for trial.

Gallant Daughter.—­Sir John Cochrane, who was engaged in Argyle’s rebellion against James II., was taken prisoner, after a desperate resistance, and condemned to be executed.  His daughter, having notice that the death-warrant was expected from London, attired herself in men’s clothes, and twice attacked and robbed the mails between Belford and Berwick.  The execution was by this means delayed, till Sir John Cochrane’s father, the Earl of Dundonald, succeeded in making interest with the king for his release.