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numbers shall be equal to the sum of the squares of the two numbers diametrically opposite to them. Thus, the square of 16 (256) added to the square of 2 (4) in the diagram make 260; and the square of 14 (196) added to the square of 8 (64) make also 260. Now, in the same way, 2 and the number on its right should be equal to 14 and the number on its left (the sum will not necessarily be 260), and so on. The four numbers given must remain ; you have simply to add the remaining six. The puzzle is quite easy if properly attacked.

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233. THE RAJAH'S DIAMONDS.

A FRENCH correspondent near the seat of war sends me the following entertaining little puzzle. An Indian Rajah died, leaving a certain number of valuable diamonds. He left his first son one diamond and one-seventh of the remainder, his second son two diamonds and one-seventh of what then remained; his third son then received three diamonds and oneseventh of what were left over, and so on, the last son receiving as many diamonds as there were sons and one-seventh of the remainder. This exactly exhausted the legacy. The simple question is: How many sons were there, and how many diamonds?

234.-STRANGE, THOUGH TRUE.

THERE is a certain district in Sussex where any sound and well-proportioned horse may travel, quite regularly, thirty miles per day, yet while its off legs are going this distance its near legs will unavoidably pass over nearly thirty-one miles. It would at first appear that the near legs of the creature must be nearly a mile ahead of the horse at the end of the journey, but the animal does not seem to mind, for, as a matter of fact, he finishes his task quite whole and sound. Can you explain?

235-AN HISTORICAL PUZZLE. THE following lines were written by Arthur Connor, a prominent figure in the Irish Rebellion of 1798. He was arrested, and wrote the verses while in prison. He made his escape to France in 1807, where he became a general in the army, and died aged eighty-seven. The pomps of Courts and pride of kings I prize above all earthly things; I love my country, but the King, Above all men, his praise I sing. The Royal banners are displayed, And may success the standard aid.

I fain would banish far from hence

The "Rights of Man" and "Common Sense."
Confusion to his odious reign,

That foe to princes, Thomas Paine.
Defeat and ruin seize the cause
Of France, its liberties and laws.

These two apparently loyal verses, if properly read, bear a very different meaning. Can you discover it?

Vol. xlix.-30.

Solutions to Last Month's Puzzles.

225.-THE FORT GARRISONS.

231.-MATE IN THREE.

1. K to Kt 2 (White), K to R 5 (dis. ch) (Black); 2. K to B 3, Any move; 3. Q mates.

1. K to Kt 2 (White), Kt to B 3 (Black); 2. Q takes Kt, Any move; 3. Q mates.

1. K to Kt 2 (White), Kt to B sq (Black); 2. Q to B 3, ch, K to R 5 (dis. ch); 3. Q to Kt 3, mate.

1. K to Kt 2 (White), R to B 4 *(Black); 2. Q to Q sq, ch, K or R moves; 3. Q mates.

*If R moves elsewhere, or P advances, White mates on his second move.

The eldest, Flink, went in an easterly direction; Tuk went westward, and Fornim towards the south.

Not long after Flink had left his brothers he came to a large forest, which grew denser and darker the farther he penetrated into it. To make matters worse, he suddenly saw a band of robbers coming towards him. It was

use defending himself against such a multitude, so he just stood still and waited until they came up.

"Hand over all your money and all your jewels!" they shouted, as they approached.

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My good fellows," said Flink, with a cheery laugh, "I have nothing in the world to give except myself."

The robbers promptly searched him, and, as they found nothing of value, they decided to take him at his word and to enrol him in their band. Flink, seeing he could do no better for himself at the moment than join the robbers and learn their art of theft, applied himself with such zeal to his new profession that the robbers very soon chose him for their captain.

Now, you will say this was not a very proud position for a young nobleman; but this must be said for Flink-he might be a thief, but he was a very honest sort of a thief! He only robbed those who had come by their money by unjust means; he never allowed his men to attack the hard-working peasant, and often he gave a large share of his spoils to the poor and destitute, so that he and his robber band were highly respected and much beloved by young and old, and only the rich wrongdoers feared him.

Now let us return to Tuk and see what adventures befell him. He, too, reached a large forest, where he met the wild men of the woods. They were clothed in the skins of wild animals, and had long, matted hair, and

beards right up to their eyes! They surrounded Tuk, yelling and dancing, and told him they would presently kill him for their supper.

I should not do that if I were you," said Tuk, calmly. "You might find me rather a tough morsel. I will soon get you something far better."

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How will you do that? they cried. "We haven't been able to find any game for several days, and we are very hungry "-and they flashed their long, yellow tusks at him.

Tuk saw they had no weapons but a stone and sling, and also noticed that they looked with great curiosity at his bow and arrows. Close to the spot where they stood there flowed a river, in whose clear waters Tuk could see the big fish darting to and fro.

"Come along," he said to the wild men, "and I'll show you what I can do."

He placed an arrow on his bow, and, as the next big fish came darting by, he shot it clean through the head. There was a shout of admiration from the wild men as the dead fish came floating up. They waded into the stream and secured it.

Then Tuk showed the wild men how to build a fire and roast the big fish. They had the meal of their lives, and were so grateful to Tuk that they unanimously proclaimed him their leader. Tuk, who saw there was no better chance for him than to remain where he was, graciously accepted the high office, and determined to learn the art of shooting so thoroughly that no one would be able to compete with him.

Meanwhile, the youngest brother, Fornim, had gone south until he could go no farther because of a very wide and deep river that blocked his way. However, moored to the river's bank, he saw a ship, and thought he would ask the captain to take him across to the other side. As he stepped on board an old woman put her head out of the cabin hatchway.

"Well, young man," she cried, "what do you want?"

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Please," said Fornim, " I want to ask you to take me across to the other side."

"What have you got to do on the other side of the river?" inquired the old woman, curiously.

"Oh, nothing in particular," answered. Fornim. And then he told her how he and his brothers had been sent out to seek their fortunes.

"Well," said the old woman, kindly," why not stay here on board this nice ship with my husband and me? We have no children,

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and we should be glad to have a son like you. We will teach you our art."

"What art is that?" cried Fornim, eagerly. "It is the art of mending," said the old woman, proudly. "The people from all over the country bring us their broken pottery and everything that needs repair, and we put it all together again so that it is as good as new."

Fornim looked rather disappointed. This did not seem the sort of work for a nobleman to do. On the other hand, the old woman's kindness pleased him; and when, at that moment, her husband returned and, hearing

what they were talking about, became equally pressing in his request that Fornim should stay and be as a son to him-well, then Fornim decided to remain with the old people and learn the art of mending as thoroughly as possible.

He stayed with them for eleven months, and all three were as happy as the days were long. Then Fornim took leave of them to return to his father's castle as agreed upon.

Punctually to the hour the three brothers returned to Birgum, and found their father As he saw awaiting them in the grand hall.

them come in he cried, rubbing his hands with pleasure, "Welcome home, my boys! Now let me hear what you have learnt."

Flink required some courage to confess to his father that he had only learnt to steal. But the old noble seemed in no way put out. Tuk, of course, was certain of his father's approval when he told that he had become so proficient in the art of shooting that he never missed a shot. Fornim hesitated a while before he spoke, fearing his father's scorn and his brothers' mockery for so menial an art as mending. At last it came out rather falteringly. But the old nobleman took it in right good part.

Cheer up," he said. No single thing that you can do thoroughly well ought to be disdained. You never can tell how useful this mending may be to you."

So they were all in right good humour, and partook of a hearty supper in the merriest mood.

The next day the old nobleman had invited all his neighbours and friends to a banquet to celebrate the return of his sons, and to witness a trial of their skill. So when all the guests had arrived in the castle park, the noble called his three sons, and said to them, "Now I want you to show these people what you can do. Up in that tree is a magpie's nest, and on the nest the mother bird is hatching her eggs. Now, you, Flink, must climb up that tree and steal away an egg from under the magpie without her noticing anything at all.”

"All right," said Flink.

He threw off his coat, and was up the tree in a moment. Then he carefully bent back the intervening twigs and leaves, and took one of the eggs out of the nest so deftly that the mother magpie never even noticed it. The guests loudly applauded this feat as Flink placed the egg in his father's hand.

"Well done, Flink!" cried the old noble, patting his boy on the back. "Now it's your turn, Tuk. Flink shall hold the egg between his finger and thumb, and you, Tuk, must shoot it to bits with your arrow."

Tuk was ready at once with his bow and arrow, delighted to show what he could do, but Flink grew rather pale. However, he gingerly took the egg and placed himself in position, holding it out at arm's length. At thirty yards' distance Tuk shot off his arrow. It was a splendid shot. Even William Tell could not have improved upon it. The egg was smashed to atoms, and Flink's fingers were not even grazed. Everyone clapped their hands and shouted, "Bravo, Tuk!"

"Now it's your turn, Fornim," said his father. "You must patch the egg together again, so that the birds will never know the difference, and then Flink will put it back into the nest again."

Fornim at once set about his task. He searched the ground for all the scattered egg particles. When he had collected them he wetted his fingers on his lips, pressed everything together, and, behold, there was the egg as good as new! It was passed around to the whole company, and all declared they could not detect it had ever been broken. Then Flink replaced it in the nest, and the magpie never suspected what had happened to it, but hatched it out exactly like the others.

The guests all rejoiced with the father at the skill shown by the three young men, and the banquet in the grand hall of the castle was held amid much merriment.. It was late at night when the last guest departed.

Before dawn the next morning there was a great commotion at the castle gate, and the porter came to wake the old noble, and tell him there were messengers from King Radbold, who wished to speak to him at once.

The messengers, being brought into his room, told him King Radbold required his help because his daughter had been carried away by a great eagle, and, as the king had heard of the wonderful things the young nobles could do, he thought they might be able to bring the princess back.

At that the old man jumped out of bed hastily and called his sons.

Flink, Tuk, and Fornim, ready dressed and well armed, soon came running into their father's room, and were told the whole story. But," inquired Flink, cautiously, what is to be the reward of him who brings the princess back?"

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"The fact is," declared the messengers, that the Royal treasury is empty, so King Radbold says he will reward the hero by bestowing upon him the princess herself in marriage.

This idea pleased the three young nobles, and, after having ascertained that the eagle had flown off with the princess in a southerly direction, they set out at once on their quest. They journeyed south, the same way Fornim had gone once before, and when they came to the big river, the old couple, after hearing their story, at once agreed to lend their ship to their adopted son. They, too, had seen a great eagle fly southward across the river, carrying something in its talons.