Gilboa. But his heart stood still when he looked upon the army of his enemies.

What could Saul do now? He called his servants, and asked them if they knew a witch who could tell him what he wanted to know. The witches were wicked women, who pretended to have the power of raising dead people, and of foretelling future things. But Saul was now grown so weak, that he was willing to hang his hopes even

upon the upon advice of a witch. Saul's servants told him of a witch living at Endor. So he changed his dress that people might not know him, and went secretly, by night, to Endor. Saul came to the house where this wicked woman lived, and asked her first to raise a dead man to life for him. The woman did not know Saul, and refused at first to do what he asked; for she was afraid of being put to death. But Saul

told her not to fear, and he promised she should not be punished. Then she said, "Whom shall I bring up?" And Saul told her to bring up Samuel.

The foolish woman had no power to raise Samuel. But God himself raised up a figure like Samuel, and he spoke to Saul. When the woman saw the figure coming up out of the ground, she herself was frightened. She cried out for fear. Then Saul looked, too. What did he see? He saw the figure of an old man. It was like Samuel, and he bowed down to the ground. Then the figure asked, "Why hast thou called me up?" Saul said, “I am sore distressed; the Philistines make war against me; God is gone from me, and answers me no more; and I have called thee to tell me what I shall do." Then the figure said, "Why dost thou ask me, if the Lord is

thine enemy? He has departed from thee, and given the kingdom to David, because thou obeyedst not His voice. The Philistines will fight against Israel; and Israel will be conquered; and to-morrow thou and thy sons shall be with me."

Saul fell down upon the ground in fear and horror. He had now no hope! Tomorrow he must die! His body must fall in the battle-field! The woman understood now who Saul was; and she and his servants tried to comfort him. She spoke kindly to him; and made ready some meat and bread for him to eat. But all this could do Saul no good; for he was going to die! Saul arose from the ground, ate the food the woman had made ready, and then, with his servants, went away. It was night-Saul's last night of life! Saul could not sleep. In the morning he went to