Evening star., 1905-10-31
CHAPTER XIV.
How a Champion Came Forth From the
East

Tho fitting ground in front of the Abbey of
st Andrews was deemed to be too small
10 contain the crowd. On the eastern slde
of this plain the countryside sioped up
ward thick with vines In summer, but no"
rideed with the brown, bare Enclosures. over
the gently rising plain curved the white
road which leads inland, usually neckeo
with travellers, but now with scarce nv
ing form upon It. so completely mad tue
lists drained all the district OF Its inhaoi-
fants Strange It was to see such vast
concourse of people, and then 10 look upon
. that broad white. empty highway wnicn
wound away, bleak and deserted uhtii l.
narrowed itself to pare sreah aSdihe'
the distant uplands.
Shortly after the contest had begun, any
one looking from the lists along THIS ROAD
might have remarked, far away In the eN-
treme distance, two brilliant and sparkling
points which glittered and twinkled In tne
bright shimmer of the winter sun Wltnlh
an hour these had become clearer ana near
or until they might be seen to come from
the reflection from the head pieces of two
horsemen who were riding at the top OF
their speed In the direction or Bordeaux.
Another half hour had brought them so
close that every point of their bearing ana
equipment could be discerned. The first was
q knight in full armor, mounted upon
brown horse with white blaze upon preast
and forehead He was short man OF great
breadth of shoulder, with ytzor closed, ana
no blaZonry upon his simple white sur
coat or plain black shield The other, VINO
was evidently his squire and attendant, was
unarmed save for the helmet upon his heao,
but bore in his righI hand very ions anu
heavy oaken spear which belonged 10 MS
master. In his left hand the squire held
not only the reins of his own horse. but
those of a great black war horse. fully mar
messed which trotted along at his SIDE.
Thus the three horses and their two riders
rode swiftly to the lists, and 1t was the
blare of the trumpet sounded by the squire
...s~ tl,A yIvht ta
broken In upon the prize-giving and drawn
away the attention and interest OF the spec
tators.
"Ha, John"' cried the prince. craning his
neck, "who Is this cavalier, and what is IL
that he desires?"
ION my word, SIRE" replied Chandos, with
the utmost surprise upon his face, 1T IS
my opinion that he is a Frenchman.'
"a Frenchmanp' repeated Don Pedro.
"And how can you tell that, my Lord
Chandos. when he has neither coat-armor'
crest or blazonry%"
by his armor, sire, which is rounder at
elbow and at shoulder than any of Bor-
deaux or of England. italian he might be
were his bassinet more sloped but l Will
swear that those plates were welded be-
twixt this and Rhine. Here comes his
squire, however, and we shall hear what
strange fortune hatn brought him over the
marches"
AS he spoke the attendant cantered up
the grassy inclosure and pulling up his
steed in front of the royal stand, blew
second fanfare upon his bugle. He was a
raw-boned, swarthy- checked man, with
black bristling beard and staggering
bearing Having sounded his call, he thrust
the bugle into his belt. and. pushing his way
betwixt the groups of English and of Gas
con knights. he reined up within spears
length of the royal party.
II come" he shouted, In a hoarSe, thick
voice, with a strong Breton accent, "as
squire and herald from my master. who is
q very valiant pursuivant -of-arms, and a
liegeman to the great and powerful monarch,
Charles King of the French. My master has
heard that there is jousting here and prospect
Of honorable advancement, so he has come
to ask that some English cavalier Will
vouchsafe for the love of his lady to run
course with sharpened lances with him, or
to meet him with sword. mace, battle-aX
or dagger. He bid me say. however, that
he would fight only with true English
man, and not with any mongrei . who is
neither English nor French. but speaks
with the tongue of the one and fights under
the banner of the other"
"Sir!' cried De Clsson, with a voice OF
thunder. while his countrynen clapped
their hands to their swords. The squire
however, took no notice of their angry
faces but continued with his masters mes
sage.
He is now ready, sire he said. ''albeit
his destrier has Travelled many miles this
day. and fast for were in fear lest we
come too late for the jousting."
Eye have indeed come TOO late" said the
prince. seeing that the prize is about to be
awarded: yet / doubt not that one of these
gentlemen will run course for the sake OF
! honor with this cavalier of France"
"And as to the prize, sir, quoth Sir Nj
gel. IL am sure that speak for all when
hay this French knight hath our leave to
bear 1t away with him IL he fairly
win It,"
''Bear word OF this to your master" said
ythe prince. land ask him which of these
live Englishmen he would desire to meet.
hears
and We have not yet heard his name"
my master, sire, is under vow to the
Virgin neither to reveal his name nor to
open his vizor until he is back upon French
ground once more"
yet what assurance have we." said the
prince, that this is not some varlet mas
Querading In his masters harness, or some
caitin knight, the very touch of whose
lance might bring infamy upon an honor
able gentleman
''It is not so, slre." cried the squire. ear
nestly. There is no man upon earth who
would demean himself by breaking a lance
with my master"
you speak out boldly. squire" the prince
Answered; but unless have some further
assurance Of your masters noble birth and
gentle name / cannot match the choicest
lances OF my court against him"
You refuse. sire?"
81 do refuse"
"Then. sire was bidden TO ask YOU from
my master whether YOU would consent II
ters name. should assure you that he was
indeed man with whom you might your
self cross swords without indignity"
Il ask no better" said the prince.
Then / must ask. Lord Chandos, that
you will step forth. / have your pledge
that the name shall remain ever a secret
and that you will neither say nor write one
\wrd which might betray 1t. The name
lis
He stopped down from his horse and
whispered something into the old knights
ear which made him start with surprise
land stare with much curiosity at the dis
ant knight. who was sitting his charger at
he further end OF the arena.
rs this. indeed. sooth?" he exclaimed
1T is, my lord and swear 1t by St. Ives
OF Brittany"
II might have known IT," said Chandos,
twisting his mustache, and still looking
thouShtfully at the cavalier.
What, then. Sir John?" asked the prince.
"Sre, this is a knight whom 1t is indeed
great honor to meet. and would that your
race would grant me leave to send my
kquire for my harness. for would dearly
love to run a course with HIM"
"Nay. nay. Sir John. you have gained as
much honor as one man can bear and il
were hard IL you could not rest now But
pay you. squire. 10 tell your master that
h II r,N.