The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-11-20
XXI.
WAGER OF BATTLE.

WAGER OF BATTLE.
The knights had moved slowly out from their
p~avilions on either eide and now stood waiting
bye the Reu side 20 Of dn she LADY s T9hI and siafS held the the
part the .combatants and end the fight, The
three knights on the southern or Earl's side
Two Of them. the Earl and his cousin Hugh.
were no more than boys In years. though al
F FSaaS 1ra Of y G %il16Sesy aGdcS was s q strong horsel
man and excellent with his lance. though also
slenderof body and more distinguished fordex-
tined to lay a good lance in rest that day and
ly the stronger. that Ia, when the knights only
were considered. For James Douglas was little
Isss taaa s g siaet. to ILL., I'll ii I iahs d Rsl5GSS %itS Sa sad iffSn IN.
70 h,s cousin. the Earl. and deaaness 70 his
whom "Mickle Lord jamie was a popular
Bid our. Hugh there rim hame for his hip.
pen clopts lest he make OF himself 2 shame"
he cried IT'S not fair tSat we should have to
'M.ayhap he yin ll be as David "a to yoaYr .S Goliath
Then to- the lad himself he said: 'Keep, a
knee. n aad alter at FG the first II shock oSP' we s'' viii ride
round them like swallows about SO many bull
The other two Avondale. knights. William
Douglas and the Marshal de .Retz. were, also
ngF. % and S sRG the The I le5tsT' s slGthed IN IN f Britta my
quartered on his shield. looked o stern and
The sauires were equally well matched.
custom. with sword, axe and dagGer-though
to his arrow skill even against the plate OF
the knights.
judges dns tr Sallsrg. O FGe 's siK SpposIns ir fn1s ias
laid their lances In rest. The squires leaned 2
rang down the wide stretch. Of Dee. the riders
CHANGED that as. they had stood James OF Avon
dale was opposite the Earl, each being In the
ter 81 Hyondale opposed his brother Hugh and
the Marshal de Retz couched spear against
y6oTnG Allan FRle len u and ia 50 they started to rid 1,
riding: straight for his man. he threw his lance
inthe paPner0 Oh his county straight At the visor
him s" iSir ID p Il. asO $ldst q lis s shiss ,t tRs SoaS|s
from his saddle. sothst the crash SSoundedduiiS
over the field.
A E ansass' device fes''T eried min nlne aoa,a th,SS q ft those
VIII O were cE R;TT led about the barriers. Stop
the sN itsh 90. e orie dh f6 g5e %aH@eIl! they were to
fight as best they could. and they must Ght 1t
And. being a decision not to be galnsaid. the
combat proceeded on very unequal terms.
Sholto. who had been eagerly In the stretch TO
match himself with the squire OF James OF
Avondaie. tho young knight Of the Bass. found
himself suddenly astride of his Lords body
Ambassador and his squire Ponthou. who had
simultaneously crossed over to the attack.
For the Marshal de Retz, in complete deli
ance. II not of the written rule OF chivalry. at
least against the spirit OF Rallsntry. would have
thrust the Earl through with hls spear as he
onLrancel" to excuse the f~oulness OF his deed.
II was lucky for himself that he did not sue
the field would have torn him to pieces for what
they not unpaturally considered his .treachery.
anger all about the barriers. and the crowd
pressed so hereelY and threateninRly that it
was all the archers could do 10 keep them with
in reasonable bounds,