The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1902-05-08

from sheer fatigue and want of air,
though he had never received scratch
or puncture.
The combat was with lance, sword
and dagger, and there was more likell.
hood of protracted contest than If bat
tie axes or maces had been permitted.
But it was all over in much shorter
time than had been anticipated. No
time was lost in getting into action,
and yet the preliminary formalities
took longer than the fight
The royal party rode into the enclos-
ure, dismounted, and took their seats
on the stand, which was covered with
red cloth. Behind the kings chair in
the center was canopy richly hung
with silk and cloth of gold, and the
banners of Oxford, Kent, De la Pole
and Burley added to the richness OF
the effect.
As they took their seats, Clara Roos
was conspicuous in the brilliant COM
pany by her black dress and the grav-
ity of her mien. 1t was no casual pas
time to her, this solemn duel. The
princess, who had been warmly inter-
ested in her tale, had brought her
there, and the buzz went round the
crowd that the figure in black was the
heroine of the adventure in the dun
geon.
The king seated in state, the COM
80 he 1,e<e onI NTH
lances lowered and heads bent halted
opposite the throne, while loud voiced
herald read the accusation, and de-
manded of Ralph whether he adhered
to it and was prepared to defend it
with his body. Then the herald read
it second time, and demanded of
Rainham whether he adhered to his
declaration of its falsehood, and was
prepared to maintain the same with his
body. Then each combatant in turn
made oath that he had no charm or
spell about his person, and that he had
used no sorcery or entertainments to help
him IN getting the victory.
The squires in attendance then closed
their helmets, and they were mar
shalled to their stations at opposite
ends of the lists.
Then there was dead silence for a
few moments, the whole crowd gazing
in breathless expectation, waiting for
the signal to engage. The signal was
given by the king in distinct voice,
audible through the whole silent
throng:
"Laissez aller. God defend the
right"
Instantly two trumpeters sounded a
thrilling blast, and the combatants
dashed together. the thunder of their
galloping steeds mingling with the
murmur of the aigtated crowd.
The horses met like two flashes of
light, the spears were delivered, and
the sound OF the trumpets was drowned
in a discordant roar at the sight of
what had been done.
Ralph, confident in his skill, had at
tempted and accomplished the difficult
feat of hitting his antagonist on the
helmet. This he had done with so true
an aim and with such force of arm
that his spear point had torn off the
vizor. The knight was bent back by
the force of the blow and the vizor sent
flying behind him. Ralph himself
seemed to sway little to the right, but
he recovered himself, and his horse
passed straight Oh.
At this unexpected feat on the part of
their favorite the silence of the crowd
was broken by huge roar of delight,
but this was suddenly mixed with a
yell of rage from one half when the
knights spearhead was seen sticking in
his opponents thigh. To one half of
the spectators, of course, this result was
not visible.
The king hau seen the unknightly
blow delivered. He sprang to his feet
in angry excitement, exclaiming, ga
foul blow! A foul blow!" and with a
loud "Hoo!" hurled his baton into the
lists'as signal foi the combat to stop.
At this signal the men-at-arms in keep
ing OF the lists galloped between the
combatants,
The king held a hurried consultation
with Burley and De la Pole, while from
the ring of excited people round the
lists came ;umult of confused specu-
lation, varied by volleys of hooting and
cries for the punishment Of the knight
as recreant. The king was vehement
ly in sympathy with this feeling.
cit was foul blow" he eagerly re-
peated. "The knight should have his
spurs hacked off and be hanged on the
spot as common felon."
Burnley tried to calm the excited boy.
He saw the way clear now for the plan