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

undedslightlyintheside.LordAudleyandtheunknownknightstruckeachotherfairlyuponthehelmetbut,whilethestrangersatasfirmandrigidaseveruponhischarger,theEnglishmanwasbentbacktohishorse'scropperbytheweightoftheblow,andhadgallopedhalf-waydownthelistserehecouldrecoverhimself.SirThomasWakewasbeatentothegroundwithabattle-axe—thatbeingtheweaponwhichhehadselected—andhadtobecarriedtohispavilion.Theserapidsuccesses,gainedoneaftertheotheroverfourcelebratedwarriors,workedthecrowduptoapitchofwonderandadmiration.ThundersofapplausefromtheEnglishsoldiers,aswellasfromthecitizensandpeasants,showedhowfartheloveofbraveandknightlydeedscouldriseabovetherivalriesofrace. “Bymysoul!John,”criedtheprince,withhischeekflushedandhiseyesshining,“thisisamanofgoodcourageandgreathardiness.Icouldnothavethoughtthattherewasanysinglearmuponearthwhichcouldhaveoverthrownthesefourchampions.” “Heisindeed,asIhavesaid,sire,aknightfromwhommuchhonoristobegained.Buttheloweredgeofthesuniswet,anditwillbebeneaththeseaerelong.” “HereisSirNigelLoring,onfootandwithhissword,”saidtheprince.“Ihaveheardthatheisafineswordsman.” “Thefinestinyourarmy,sire,”Chandosanswered.“YetIdoubtnotthathewillneedallhisskillthisday.” Ashespoke,thetwocombatantsadvancedfromeitherendinfullarmorwiththeirtwo-handedswordsslopingovertheirshoulders.Thestrangerwalkedheavilyandwithameasuredstride,whiletheEnglishknightadvancedasbrisklyasthoughtherewasnoironshelltoweighdownthefreedomofhislimbs.Atfourpacesdistancetheystopped,eyedeachotherforamoment,andtheninaninstantfelltoworkwithaclatterandclangasthoughtwosturdysmithswerebusyupontheiranvils.Upanddownwentthelong,shiningblades,roundandroundtheycircledincurvesofglimmeringlight,crossing,meeting,disengaging,withflashofsparksateveryparry.HereandthereboundedSirNigel,hisheaderect,hisjauntyplumeflutteringintheair,whilehisdarkopponentsentincrashingblowuponblow,followingfiercelyupwithcutandwiththrust,butneveroncegettingpastthepractisedbladeoftheskilledswordsman.ThecrowdroaredwithdelightasSirNigelwouldstoophisheadtoavoidablow,orbysomeslightmovementofhisbodyallowsometerriblethrusttoglanceharmlesslypasthim.Suddenly,however,histimecame.TheFrenchman,whirlinguphissword,showedforaninstantachinkbetwixthisshoulderpieceandthererebracewhichguardedhisupperarm.IndashedSirNigel,andoutagainsoswiftlythattheeyecouldnotfollowthequickplayofhisblade,butatrickleofbloodfromthestranger'sshoulder,andarapidlywideningredsmudgeuponhiswhitesurcoat,showedwherethethrusthadtakeneffect.Thewoundwas,however,butaslightone,andtheFrenchmanwasabouttorenewhisonset,when,atasignfromtheprince,Chandosthrewdownhisbaton,andthemarshalsofthelistsstruckuptheweaponsandbroughtthecontesttoanend. “Itweretimetocheckit,”saidtheprince,smiling,“forSirNigelistoogoodamanformetolose,and,bythefiveholywounds!ifoneofthosecutscamehomeIshouldhavefearsforourchampion.Whatthinkyou,Pedro?” “Ithink,Edward,thatthelittlemanwasverywellabletotakecareofhimself.Formypart,Ishouldwishtoseesowellmatchedapairfightonwhileadropofbloodremainedintheirveins.” “Wemusthavespeechwithhim.Suchamanmustnotgofrommycourtwithoutrestorsup.Bringhimhither,Chandos,and,certes,iftheLordLoringhathresignedhisclaimuponthisgoblet,itisrighta