The Armourer's Apprentice — page 21: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

ee) pees ROR a me ae) : Tait 4 , - ~< be pa -F of . p Fae r q «a Fe t Tad a 4, ; 5 a at > 4 « . way ‘< re ? Gas mounted and attended. This dawn shall ard theright.” —“ ‘ Ne ¢-< a i : ei AL” C4{APTER VII. els ’ | EASTWARD HO! ; : \ iit i e+ ae , hedgerowr, of the most peculiar duels ever witnessed. laws of chivalry and duels of those days. pires were useless, cng-at-arms could stop them, a Jk a ‘ - the greatest freedom and interest. _ All the elder but ¢ iso more completely armed. me t 7 + NG hee al ‘Ralph’s ponderous axe and hea What chance hath yonder stripling with only & sword and no shield? I am no in this case, for it is simple bravado in the youth to fight in this manner—nay, it is an insult to his antagonist.” _ “For my j@rt I wish the lad well,” said another. -“ This Le Gros is but a creature of the dissolute Lord de Courcy. I believe the young fellow’s statement true: but, Jet the quaitel turn which way it will, we shall hear more about the armourer’s jaughter, for | marked the king’s face well - «ord = os (fg é 7 * , bh P ; ste a * . a’ bd > » ¥ - eee > * 7 “ ‘inde Foix, see that Sir Stephen be well witness & most daring fight, but those who do wrong need tremble, for Heaven will JE DUEL TO THE DEATH—VICTORY—THE ARRIVAL OF THE BISHOP OF ROCHESTER } was a glorious morning when the two ‘ champions, ready armed, leaped into their saddles, and stood ready for the BIT ul to be given for the combat to com- me oat RK +2 tafe a u€ SUN Was just rising out of the east. ihe cold, grey light of dawn was just tak- ing the rosy hues of morning, and the bithesome birds begau to twitter in the _ Anxiousiy did the king and the few knights who were able to watch the com- iug struggle look at the two combatants, ‘who were about to engage in perhaps one Rules there were none according to the _ ‘There were no lists to confine the com- Datants to a certain spot; therefore, um- for the combatants might gallop a mile or two away before thefight became desperate, and so no umpire No one doubted that it would be a true ‘duel to the death, and therefore the different qualities and points of the war- riors were examined and discussed with : knights were in favour of Ralph le Gros, who was not only by far the ‘most powerful-looking knight of the two, be but child’s play after all,” said one of the knights. “Mark you Sir shield ? lover of Sir Ralph, but he deserves victory ig when he heard the news, and it boded no good to Algernon de Courcy or his cunning uncle, Sir Bidulph de Boischene. But what is the meaning of this? See! the combatants ride away from each other.! By my honour! this is a disgrace if the fight be stopped. Richard of the Lion’s eart was not wont to behaveso.” | This remark might well have been made, for the two combatants had ridden up close to each other, a few words had passed, and then, saluting each other courteously, they had turned their horses’ heads, and rode away in different direc- tions; but the words that passed were certainly not of the most friendly charac- ter. | “Sir Knight of the Anvil,” said Sir Ralph le Gros, “be warned before it is too late; confess that thou art not a match for me, that thy statements about my kins- men were all false, and that thou wilt do penance for all thy presumption. Do that and thou shalt be permitted to go back to ~ thy forge.” “J know not by what right, Sir Ralph le Gros, you should address such words to me.” said our hero. “Have I by word or action shown that I have had the slightest fear of you or yours? Neyer! and sooner would I perish than do so, Let the com- bat proceed, and may Heaven protect the right!” “Beit as you will,” replied Sir Ralph, “but don’t forget that I offered to spare ou. I will have no mercy now. You now the conditions of the combat ?” ‘I do, and will take care, Sir Ralph, that you have your wish.”’ Then they saluted each other and rode away to their friends. | The trumpets sounded and the signal was given fcr the charge. To thesurprise oi all, Sir Ralph le Gros did not gallop straight at his foe, but dashed in a straight line from the castle, waving his battle-axe on high. Calm and collected Sir Stephen shook his horse’s rein and galloped after his fee. Suddenly Ralph le Gros, having reached a good distance from the spectators, wheeled his horse round and charged furiously ot Sir Stephen. Nothing daunted, our hero with a toucli of the spur made his horse bound on one side, so that he escaped the blow his furious foe had made at his head, whilst by a dexterous movement he rained down such ashower of blows upon the crest of Sir Raiph that he was nearly stunned, and fell forward on to his horse’s neck; and had it not been for the gallant animal, which carried him out of the reach of our hero’s terrible arm, he would have been slain, ; | EomiuGl OOO SS (E(@)