roper to test those who are our comrades in arms."

"i would draw out if it may honorably be done," murmured norbury

in alleyne's ear. "the man is a noted swordsman and far above

your strength."

edricson came, however, of that sturdy saxon blood which is very

slowly heated, but once up not easily to be cooled. the hint of

danger which norbury threw out was the one thing needed to harden

his resolution.

"i came here at the back of my master," he said, "and i looked on

every man here as an englishman and a friend. this gentleman

hath shown me a rough welcome, and if i have answered him in the

same spirit he has but himself to thank. i will pick the glove

up; but, certes, i shall abide what i have done unless he first

crave my pardon for what he hath said and done."

tranter shrugged his shoulders. "you have done what you could to

save him, harcomb," said he. "we had best settle at once."

"so say i," cried alleyne.

"the council will not break up until the banquet," remarked a

gray-haired squire. "you have a clear two hours."

"and the place?"

"the tilting-yard is empty at this hour."

"nay; it must not be within the grounds of the court, or it may

go hard with all concerned if it come to the ears of the prince."

"but there is a quiet spot near the river," said one youth. "we

have but to pass through the abbey grounds, along the armory

wall, past the church of st. remi, and so down the rue des

apotres."

"en avant, then!" cried tranter shortly, and the whole assembly

flocked out into the open air, save only those whom the special

orders of their masters held to their posts. these unfortunates

crowded to the small casements, and craned their necks after the

throng as far as they could catch a glimpse of them.

close to the banks of the garonne there lay a little tract of

green sward, with the high wall of a prior's garden upon one side

and an orchard with a thick bristle of leafless apple-trees upon

the other. the river ran deep and swift up to the steep bank;

but there were few boats upon it, and the ships were moored far

out in the centre of the stream. here the two combatants drew

their swords and threw off their doublets, for neither had any

defensive armor. the duello with its stately etiquette had not

yet come into vogue, but rough and sudden encounters were as

common as they must ever be when hot-headed youth goes abroad

with a weapon strapped to its waist. in such combats, as well as

in the more formal sports of the tilting-yard, tranter had won a

name for strength and dexterity which had caused norbury to utter

his well-meant warning. on the other hand, alleyne had used his

weapons in constant exercise and practice for every day for many

months, and being by nature quick of eye and prompt of hand, he

might pass now as no mean swordsman. a strangely opposed pair

they appeared as they approached each other: tranter dark and

stout and stiff, with hairy chest and corded arms, alleyne a

model of comeliness and grace, with his golden hair and his skin

as fair as a woman's. an unequal fight it seemed to most; but

there were a few, and they the most experienced, who saw

something in the youth's steady gray eye and wary step which left

the issue open to doubt.

"hold, sirs, hold!" cried norbury, ere a blow had been struck.

"this gentleman hath a two-handed sword, a good foot longer than

that of our friend."

"take mine, alleyne," said ford.

"nay, friends," he answered, "i understand the weight and balance

of mine own. to work, sir, for our lord may need us at the

abbey!"

tranter's great sword was indeed a mighty vantage in his favor.

he stood with his feet close together, his knees bent outwards,

ready for a dash inwards or a spring out. the weapon he held

straight up in front of him with blade erect, so that he might

either bring it down with a swinging blow, or by a turn of the

heavy blade he might guard his own head and body. a further

protection lay in the broad and powerful guard which crossed the

hilt, and which was furnished with a deep and narrow notch, in

which an expert swordsman might catch his foeman's blade, and by

a quick turn of his wrist might snap it across. alleyne, on the

other hand, must trust for his defence to his quick eye and

active foot--for his sword, though keen as a whetstone could

make it, was of a light and graceful build with a narrow, sloping

pommel and a tapering steel.

tranter well knew his advantage and lost no time in putting it to

use. as his opponent walked towards him he suddenly bounded

forward and sent in a whistling cut which would have severed the

other in twain had he not sprung lightly back from it. so close

was it that the point ripped a gash in the jutting edge of his

linen cyclas. quick as a panther, alleyne sprang in with a

thrust, but