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again to the attack； shouting。
They were not a moment too soon in this retreat； either； for the next
instant the pickets flew open； and a volley of stones flew after the
retreating Knights of the Rose。 One smote Wilkes upon the head； knocking
him down headlong。 Another struck Myles upon his left shoulder；
benumbing his arm from the finger…tips to the armpit； so that he thought at
first the limb was broken。
〃Get ye behind the buttresses！〃 shouted those who looked down upon
the fight from the windows 〃get ye behind the buttresses！〃 And in
answer the lads； scattering like a newly…flushed covey of partridges； fled
to and crouched in the sheltering angles of masonry to escape from the
flying stones。
And now followed a lull in the battle； the bachelors fearing to leave
the protection of the arched passage…way lest their retreat should be cut off；
and the Knights of the Rose not daring to quit the shelter of the buttresses
and angles of the wall lest they should be knocked down by the stones。
The bachelor whom Myles had struck down with his cudgel was
sitting up rubbing the back of his head； and Wilkes had gathered his wits
enough to crawl to the shelter of the nearest buttress。 Myles； peeping
around the corner behind which he stood； could see that the bachelors
were gathered into a little group consulting together。 Suddenly it broke
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asunder； and Blunt turned around。
〃Ho； Falworth！〃 he cried。 〃Wilt thou hold truce whiles we parley with
ye？〃
〃Aye；〃 answered Myles。
〃Wilt thou give me thine honor that ye will hold your hands from
harming us whiles we talk together？〃
〃Yea；〃 said Myles； 〃I will pledge thee mine honor。〃
〃I accept thy pledge。 See！ here we throw aside our stones and lay
down our knives。 Lay ye by your clubs； and meet us in parley at the horse…
block yonder。〃
〃So be it；〃 said Myles； and thereupon； standing his cudgel in the angle
of the wall； he stepped boldly out into the open court…yard。 Those of his
party came scatteringly from right and left； gathering about him； and the
bachelors advanced in a body； led by the head squire。
〃Now what is it thou wouldst have； Walter Blunt？〃 said Myles； when
both parties had met at the horse…block。
〃It is to say this to thee； Myles Falworth；〃 said the other。 〃One time；
not long sin； thou didst challenge me to meet thee hand to hand in the
dormitory。 Then thou didst put a vile affront upon me； for the which I ha'
brought on this battle to…day； for I knew not then that thou wert going to
try thy peasant tricks of wrestling； and so； without guarding myself； I met
thee as thou didst desire。〃
〃But thou hadst thy knife； and would have stabbed him couldst thou
ha' done so；〃 said Gascoyne。
〃Thou liest！〃 said Blunt。 〃I had no knife。〃 And then； without giving
time to answer； 〃Thou canst not deny that I met thee then at thy bidding；
canst thou； Falworth？〃
〃Nay；〃 said Myles； 〃nor haply canst thou deny it either。〃 And at this
covert reminder of his defeat Myles's followers laughed scoffingly and
Blunt bit his lip。
〃Thou hast said it；〃 said he。 〃Then sin。 I met thee at thy bidding； I dare
to thee to meet me now at mine； and to fight this battle out between our
two selves； with sword and buckler and bascinet as gentles should； and not
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in a wrestling match like two country hodges。〃
〃Thou art a coward caitiff； Walter Blunt！〃 burst out Wilkes； who stood
by with a swelling lump upon his head； already as big as a walnut。 〃Well
thou knowest that Falworth is no match for thee at broadsword play。 Is he
not four years younger than thou； and hast thou not had three times the
practice in arms that he hath had？ I say thou art a coward to seek to fight
with cutting weapons。〃
Blunt made no answer to Wilkes's speech； but gazed steadfastly at
Myles； with a scornful smile curling the corners of his lips。 Myles stood
looking upon the ground without once lifting his eyes； not knowing what
to answer； for he was well aware that he was no match for Blunt with the
broadsword。
〃Thou art afraid to fight me； Myles Falworth；〃 said Blunt； tauntingly；
and the bachelors gave a jeering laugh in echo。
Then Myles looked up； and I cannot say that his face was not a trifle
whiter than usual。 〃Nay；〃 said he； 〃I am not afraid； and I will fight thee；
Blunt。〃
〃So be it；〃 said Blunt。 〃Then let us go at it straightway in the armory
yonder； for they be at dinner in the Great Hall； and just now there be'st no
one by to stay us。〃
〃Thou shalt not fight him； Myles！〃 burst out Gascoyne。 〃He will
murther thee！ Thou shalt not fight him； I say！〃
Myles turned away without answering him。
〃What is to do？〃 called one of those who were still looking out of the
windows as the crowd of boys passed beneath。
〃Blunt and Falworth are going to fight it out hand to hand in the
armory；〃 answered one of the bachelors； looking up。
The brawling of the squires was a jest to all the adjoining part of the
house。 So the heads were withdrawn again； some laughing at the 〃sparring
of the cockerels。〃
But it was no jesting matter to poor Myles。
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CHAPTER 16
I have no intention to describe the fight between Myles Falworth and
Walter Blunt。 Fisticuffs of nowadays are brutal and debasing enough； but a
fight with a sharp…edged broadsword was not only brutal and debasing； but
cruel and bloody as well。
From the very first of the fight Myles Falworth was palpably and
obviously overmatched。 After fifteen minutes had passed； Blunt stood hale
and sound as at first； but poor Myles had more than one red stain of warm
blood upon doublet and hose； and more than one bandage had been
wrapped by Gascoyne and Wilkes about sore wounds。
He had received no serious injury as yet； for not only was his body
protected by a buckler； or small oblong shield； which he carried upon his
left arm； and his head by a bascinet； or light helmet of steel； but perhaps；
after all； Blunt was not over…anxious to do him any dangerous harm。
Nevertheless； there could be but one opinion as to how the fight tended；
and Myles's friends were gloomy and downcast； the bachelors
proportionately exultant； shouting with laughter； and taunting Myles at
every unsuccessful stroke。
Once； as he drew back panting； leaning upon Gascoyne's shoulder； the
faithful friend whispered； with trembling lips： 〃Oh； dear Myles； carry it no
further。 Thou hurtest him not； and he will slay thee ere he have done with
thee。〃
Thereupon Blunt； who caught the drift of the speech； put in a word。
〃Thou art sore hurt； Myles Falworth；〃 said he； 〃and I would do thee no
grievous harm。 Yield thee and own thyself beaten； and I will forgive thee。
Thou hast fought a good fight； and there is no shame in yielding now。〃
〃Never！〃 cried Myles； hoarsely〃never will I yield me！ Thou mayst
slay me； Walter Blunt； and I reck not if thou dost do so； but never else wilt
thou conquer me。〃
There was a tone of desperation in his voice that made all look serious。
〃Nay；〃 said Blunt； 〃I will fight thee no more； Myles Falworth； thou
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hast had enough。〃
〃By heavens！〃 cried Myles； grinding his teeth； 〃thou shalt fight me；
thou coward！ Thou hast brought this fight upon us； and either thou or I get
our quittance here。 Let go； Gascoyne！〃 he cried； shaking loose his friend's
hold； 〃I tell thee he shall fight me！〃
From that moment Blunt began to lose his head。 No doubt he had not
thought of such a serious fight as this when he had given his challenge；
and there was a savage bull…dog tenacity about Myles that could not but
have had a somewhat demoralizing effec