The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-06-09

you. for which / would make amends
What amendsf Will you give her back TO
mei'
'No. that / cannot do. even IL she should
wish it, OF which / am not sure; however
while ! live
Bring her forth. and let US hear whether
abe wishes 1t or mol" shouted Peter. hoping
that his words would reach Margaret.
But D'Aguilar only smiled and shook his
head. then went on:
THAT I cannot either. for it would give
her pain. Still. Sehor. I will repay the
heavy debt that I owe you and to you
also, Sehor." And he bowed toward Cas-
tell, who. unseen by Peter. had orept down
the ladder and now stood behind him star
ing at D'Aguilar with cold rage and indig-
nation. you have wrought us much dam
age. have you not, hunting US across the seas
and killing sundry Of us with your arrows.
and now o have striven to board our
ship and put us TO the sword, a design
in which God has frustrated you? There
fore your lives are justly forfeit, and none
would blame us IL we slew you. Yet l
spare you.
Elf it is possible ! will put you back
aboard the Margaret. and II it is not posi-
BILE you shall be set free ashore to 90 un-
molested whittier you will. Thus / will
wipe out my debt and be free Of oil re-
preach"
d you take me for such a man as your
selff' asked Peter, with q bitter laugh. Il
do not leave this ship alive unless my
afianced wife, Mistress Margaret, goes
with me-
Then, Senior Bronze. l fear that you will
leave II dead, as indeed we may all OF us,
unless we make land soon, for the vessel
is filing fast with water. Still, knowing
your mettle, / looked for some such words
from o n am prepared with another
offer which / am sure you will not refuse.
Senior, our swords are much Of the same
length, shall we measure them against each
otherf I am a grandee Of Spain, the Mar
quis Of Morella, and il will, therefore, be no
dishonor for you to fight with me-
Il am not 90 sure said Peter, "for | am
more than that-an honest man Of England,
who never practtBed woman stealing. Still,
l will fight you gladly, at Sea or shore, where
ever and whenever We meet, till one or both
are dead. But what is the stake, and how
do / know that some Of these" and he
pointed to the crew, who were listening in
tently, will not stab me from behipd?'
'Sehor, I have told you that / do not muir
der, and that would be the foulest murder.
As for the stake, IL is Margaret to the victor.
II you kill me on behalf OF all my company,
Iswear by our Saviour's blood that you shall
depart with her and her father unframed,
and II l kill you, then you both shall swear
that she shall be left with me, and no suit or
question raised; but to her woman / rive
liberty, who have seen more than enough
Of her.
NAY" broke in Castell, speaking for the
first time. Il demand the right TO fight with
you also when my arm 10 healed
i refuse it, answered D'Aguilar hauRh-
tily. Il oannot lift my sword against an
old man who is the father Of the maid who
shall be my wife, and, moreover, q merchant
and O Jew. Nay, answer me not, lest all
these should remember your Ill words.
L will be generous, and leave you out Of
the oath. Do you worst against mo, Mas
ter Castell, and then leave me TO do nv
worst against you. Sehor Bronze, the light
grove bad, and the water gains upon us.
Say, are you readyf'
Peter nodded his head. and they stepped
forward.
One more word said .D'Aguilar, drop
ping his sword point. my friends, you
have heard our compact. Do you swear
to abide by IL, and, II I fall, to set these two
men and the two ladies free on their own
ship or on the land, for the honor Of chivaly
and of Spaini"
The captain Of the San Antonio and his
lheutenants answered that they swore on
behalf OF all the crew.
'You hear, Senior Bronze. Now theee are
the conditions we fight TO the death,
but II both OF US should be hurt or wounded
90 that We cannot despatch each other then
no further harm shall be lone to either of
US. who shall be tended till we recover or
die by the will Of God
You mean that we must die on each
others swords or not at all, and II any foul
ohance should overtake either other than
by his adversary's land that adversary
shall not despatch him7"
YES. Senior. for In our case such things
may happen and he pointed TO the huge
seas that lowered over them, threatening
to enguH the water logged caravel. I'VE
will take no advantage Of each other, who
wish TO fight this quarrel out with our own
right arms
so be IL" said Peter, and Master Castell
here 10 the witness TO our bargain"
D'AguiAr nodded. kissed the cross hilt
Of his sword In confirmation OF the pact,
bowed ~courteously Int put himself on bis
defence,
For a moment they stood facing each
other, a well matched ~pair-Peter, lean,
fierce faced. long armed. a terrible man to
see In the fiery light that broke upon him
from beneath the edge OF q black cloud;
the spaniard tall also. and agile. but to all
appearance as unooncerned as though this
were but a pleasure bout. and not a duel TO
the death with a woman's fate hanging on
the hazard.
D'Aguilar wore a b~reastplate OF gold in
laid black steel and a helmet, while Peter
had but his tunio Of bulls hide and iron
lined cap. though his straight out and
thrust sword was heavier and mayhap half
an inch longer than that Of his foe.
Thus, then, they stood while Castell
and all the ships company, save the helms
man who steered her 10 the harbor'a mouth,
chung to the bulwarks and the cordaEe OF
the mainmast and. forgctful OF their own
peril, watched in utter silence.
1t was Peter who thrust the first STRAIGHT
at the throat. but D'Agnilar parted deity,
90 that the sword point went paat his neck.
and, before il could be drawn back again, |