CHAPTER XXIV. HOW A CHAMPION CAME FORTH FROM THE EAST.

elightforthesecourses.Iprayyou,gentlemen,totakeyourplaces,thatwemayseewhetherthisstranger'sdeedsareasboldashiswords.” Theunknownknighthadsatlikeastatueofsteel,lookingneithertotherightnortotheleftduringthesepreliminaries.Hehadchangedfromthehorseuponwhichhehadridden,andbestrodetheblackchargerwhichhissquirehadledbesidehim.Hisimmensebreadth,hissterncomposedappearance,andthemodeinwhichhehandledhisshieldandhislance,wereenoughinthemselvestoconvincethethousandsofcriticalspectatorsthathewasadangerousopponent.Aylward,whostoodinthefrontrowofthearcherswithSimon,bigJohn,andothersoftheCompany,hadbeencriticisingtheproceedingsfromthecommencementwiththeeaseandfreedomofamanwhohadspenthislifeunderarmsandhadlearnedinahardschooltoknowataglancethepointsofahorseandhisrider.Hestarednowatthestrangerwithawrinkledbrowandtheairofamanwhoisstrivingtostirhismemory. “Bymyhilt!Ihaveseenthethickbodyofhimbeforeto-day.YetIcannotcalltomindwhereitcouldhavebeen.AtNogentbelike,orwasitatAuray?Markme,lads,thismanwillprovetobeoneofthebestlancesofFrance,andtherearenobetterintheworld.” “Itisbutchild'splay,thispokinggame,”saidJohn.“Iwouldfaintrymyhandatit,for,bytheblackrood!Ithinkthatitmightbeamended.” “Whatthenwouldyoudo,John?”askedseveral. “Therearemanythingswhichmightbedone,”saidtheforesterthoughtfully.“MethinksthatIwouldbeginbybreakingmyspear.” “Sotheyallstrivetodo.” “Nay,butnotuponanotherman'sshield.Iwouldbreakitovermyownknee.” “Andwhatthebetterforthat,oldbeefandbones?”askedBlackSimon. “SoIwouldturnwhatisbutalady'sbodkinofaweaponintoaveryhandsomeclub.” “Andthen,John?” “ThenIwouldtaketheother'sspearintomyarmormyleg,orwhereitpleasedhimbesttoputit,andIwoulddashouthisbrainswithmyclub.” “Bymytenfinger-bones!oldJohn,”saidAylward,“Iwouldgivemyfeather-bedtoseeyouataspear-running.Thisisamostcourtlyandgentlesportwhichyouhavedevised.” “Soitseemstome,”saidJohnseriously.“Or,again,onemightseizetheotherroundthemiddle,pluckhimoffhishorseandbearhimtothepavilion,theretoholdhimtoransom.” “Good!”criedSimon,amidaroaroflaughterfromallthearchersround.“ByThomasofKent!weshallmakeacamp-marshalofthee,andthoushaltdrawuprulesforourjousting.But,John,whoisitthatyouwouldupholdinthisknightlyandpleasingfashion?” “Whatmeanyou?” “Why,John,sostrongandstrangeatiltermustfightforthebrightnessofhislady'seyesorthecurveofhereyelash,evenasSirNigeldoesfortheLadyLoring.” “Iknownotaboutthat,”saidthebigarcher,scratchinghisheadinperplexity.“SinceMaryhathplayedmefalse,Icanscarcefightforher.” “Yetanywomanwillserve.” “Thereismymotherthen,”saidJohn.“Shewasatmuchpainsatmyupbringing,and,bymysoul!Iwillupholdthecurveofhereyelashes,foritticklethmyveryheart-roottothinkofher.Butwhoishere?” “ItisSirWilliamBeauchamp.Heisavaliantman,butIfearthatheisscarcefirmenoughuponthesaddletobearthethrustofsuchatilterasthisstrangerpromisestobe.” Aylward'swordswerespeedilyjustified,forevenashespokethetwoknightsmetinthecentreofthelists.Beauchampstruckhisopponentashrewdblowuponthehelmet,butwasmetwithsofrightfulathrustthathewhirledoutofhissaddleandrolledoverandoverupontheground.SirThomasPercymetwithlittlebettersuccess,forhisshieldwassplit,hisvambracetornandhehimselfwo