The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-07-16
CHAPTER XVII.
THE BARB.

N
Query eDcol. ion ny bien sougenauce
I'autre rUilpit ct dopuIs conteDanCe
Not son destrier a In lice approchier,
Ft car leng temps ne 80 peuvent toucher.
LOUIS DE BBAUvEAU.
Crichton. meantime in answer 10 the defiance
Of the King ot Navarro instantly proceeded g.
the entrance Of the lists. executing. as he rode
thither SO many graceful curvGts and high
passades (which latter, according to Pluvine.
constitute "ia vraye pierre do toucbe du bon
chevalier e dn bon chevaF !. that the or re-
sounded with the appliances Of tho spectators
and the tide Of popular opinion which breath
will ever turn, again ran high in his favor.
stirred by their shouts ana SUI more or eiated
and ehiyalrous antagonist perceiving. also.
that the Bourbon had dismounted, and that the
pales (agnin hastily stretched across the area
under tho direction of tho Vicomte de Joyeuse
and Montjoie) we're not yet urfny fastened to
their supporters. the Scot called 10 his esquire
and taking his spear. with the ostensible pur.
pose Of breathing his charger. performed u
brilliant course alone.
Nothing could exceed tho rapidity and dexter;
lty W tn which this pass was made. The animal
seemed to obey every Impulse OF his rider.
Starting from his post with snort of wild de-
light. he launched Into the career as IL he would
bear down ali opposit ion by his fury. Criehton
threw the rein upon his shoulder. and lung his
heavy Ian o into the air-caught it-.again tossed
1t aloft--and repeated this extraordinary feat for
a third time ere the launches Of his stecd seem
ed to stiffen into marble on his arrival at the
point of rest. Universal acclamatiop rewarded
this triumphant exhibition OF knighJy skill.
But the admiration Of the beholders amounted
to the most rapturous enthusiasm as they wit
messed what next ensued. The Scot shouted to
the attendants and in obedience to his com
mand tho ring employed in the tourney was
instantly attached to an elevated post, forming
part Of the framework Of tho lists, Executing
demi -vote with curvets he again started on
his career: again thrice hurled his spear aoft;
and maintaining throughout this gallant action
an unaltered carriage of body, moving only
the right arm, as occasion demanded. finally
carried off the prize upon his lance's point.
This performance tprOlonged in description
WIS the work only Of u few secon s
The danes waved their kerchiefs: the SER
geants Of the guard clashed their halberts the
mob flung their caps into the air. without being
30 successful in regaining them as the Scot had
been in the recovery Of his spear. the bosoms OF
the youthful mobiles beat high with ardor and
emulation; even the members Of the royal group
wore loud In their appauses.
"Honncur aux fils des preuxF exclaimed
Brantome. with transport; that course was
brayely executed"
"A marvellous exploit certes. my dear able"
saii Henri Your valiant uncle. the Sieur dc
Chateigneraye, with all his address in horse.
manshfp, and expertness In the management OF
arms, could scarcely nave acnIeVed that amazing
feat." .
" 1t may not occur to your maiesty's recollec-
tlon, but precisely the same feat as that we have
just witnessed. was performed by the Seur de
la Chateigneraye, in the presence OF your royal
father. returned Brantome, Ny brave uncle has
been surpassed by no knight. living or dead. in
vi9or and address,.
Save by Gui de Chabot. able" cried the
Jester. with scofllng grimace. The coup do
Jarnac has passed into prOverb. 1t will be for
tunate for our dear Henrot II the coup de Crich-
ton do not superSede It,
"A truce to this" said the king; thy jesting
is ill timed"
Good counsel Is generally 80, compere."
torted Chicot. IF. however, after this specimen
Of Crichton'S consumrnate skill, like yon un-
known knight, you are SO madly adventurous
as to tilt with him, shall say Of you, what one
wiser than am said Of the ng your father
Sire: ,yous n'estes plus, Vous neste3 plus quo
You shall say what you please Of us. scel-
'erat returned the good-hbn,moreds M, monarch: ma
royal person. and endanger our hitherto untar-
nished reputation as a knight. by entering the
lists with this invncble Scot whom Sathan cor
tainly abbetteth. But sect his fool hardy chal-
lenger again takes the fied-ha! Mort Dieul
what is thisl Our Bearnais iii he must be 50
designatedl tears the Silken Streamer from MS
spear and casts it beneath his chargers hoofs.
Observe. also. my liege, that he replaces II
with kerchief. :, interposed Brantome, ana
note. moreover. that this kerchief has not the
golden fringe which Is worn by the Queen q
Navarro. Her majesty. whose colors be hath
rashly assumed, has evidently refused him
favor-hal-haF
There is nothing extraordinary in that Seig-
neur Able. seeing that the Admirable Criehton
is in the case" returned Chicot warrant me.
if thou hadst been his opponent this cavaliers
suit would not have been fruitless. Let IT sufilce
that he has gase-no matter what-or whence
obtained
What queen hath denied him.
A auean hath supplied him;
And the favor he beareth
No favorite hareth,
His choice is a right one,
With ,rchief white one.
To tilt against Crichton."
by Phpbusi gossip!" exclaimed the king,
thou rfymest like Frere Jean, en- cramoisi.
But bark the charge Is sounded. Monuoie's
arrangements are completed. Allonsl mes
seigneurs Holai Du Halde, my. warderl Hast
thou contrived RUggieri's escape. he added. in
a whisper.
q He is already without the Louvre. my liege."
returned the chief Wallet In the same tone.
The fair Escarrnonde is ours, thenl ejaeu-
lated Henri, with triumph.
And followed by his favorites he proceeded
to the canopy and took his seat upon the throne
cleared Of its numerous intruders. The mar
shals of the field FASTENED to their tribunal:
kontjoie hurried to ths estrade reserved for