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shield bore no cognizance。 As gracefully poising his lance he rode
into the green space where the Rowski's tents were pitched； the
hearts of all present beat with anxiety； and the poor Prince of
Cleves； especially； had considerable doubts about his new champion。
〃So slim a figure as that can never compete with Donnerblitz；〃 said
he； moodily； to his daughter； 〃but whoever he be； the fellow puts a
good face on it； and rides like a man。 See； he has touched the
Rowski's shield with the point of his lance！ By St。 Bendigo； a
perilous venture！〃
The unknown knight had indeed defied the Rowski to the death； as
the Prince of Cleves remarked from the battlement where he and his
daughter stood to witness the combat； and so； having defied his
enemy； the Incognito galloped round under the castle wall； bowing
elegantly to the lovely Princess there； and then took his ground
and waited for the foe。 His armor blazed in the sunshine as he sat
there； motionless； on his cream…colored steed。 He looked like one
of those fairy knights one has read ofone of those celestial
champions who decided so many victories before the invention of gun
powder。
The Rowski's horse was speedily brought to the door of his
pavilion； and that redoubted warrior； blazing in a suit of
magnificent brass armor； clattered into his saddle。 Long waves of
blood…red feathers bristled over his helmet； which was farther
ornamented by two huge horns of the aurochs。 His lance was painted
white and red； and he whirled the prodigious beam in the air and
caught it with savage glee。 He laughed when he saw the slim form
of his antagonist； and his soul rejoiced to meet the coming battle。
He dug his spurs into the enormous horse he rode： the enormous
horse snorted； and squealed； too； with fierce pleasure。 He jerked
and curveted him with a brutal playfulness； and after a few
minutes' turning and wheeling； during which everybody had leisure
to admire the perfection of his equitation； he cantered round to a
point exactly opposite his enemy； and pulled up his impatient
charger。
The old Prince on the battlement was so eager for the combat； that
he seemed quite to forget the danger which menaced himself； should
his slim champion be discomfited by the tremendous Knight of
Donnerblitz。 〃Go it！〃 said he； flinging his truncheon into the
ditch； and at the word； the two warriors rushed with whirling
rapidity at each other。
And now ensued a combat so terrible； that a weak female hand； like
that of her who pens this tale of chivalry； can never hope to do
justice to the terrific theme。 You have seen two engines on the
Great Western line rush past each other with a pealing scream？ So
rapidly did the two warriors gallop towards one another； the
feathers of either streamed yards behind their backs as they
converged。 Their shock as they met was as that of two cannon…
balls； the mighty horses trembled and reeled with the concussion；
the lance aimed at the Rowski's helmet bore off the coronet； the
horns； the helmet itself； and hurled them to an incredible
distance： a piece of the Rowski's left ear was carried off on the
point of the nameless warrior's weapon。 How had he fared？ His
adversary's weapon had glanced harmless along the blank surface of
his polished buckler； and the victory so far was with him。
The expression of the Rowski's face； as； bareheaded； he glared on
his enemy with fierce bloodshot eyeballs； was one worthy of a
demon。 The imprecatory expressions which he made use of can never
be copied by a feminine pen。
His opponent magnanimously declined to take advantage of the
opportunity thus offered him of finishing the combat by splitting
his opponent's skull with his curtal…axe； and； riding back to his
starting…place； bent his lance's point to the ground； in token that
he would wait until the Count of Eulenschreckenstein was helmeted
afresh。
〃Blessed Bendigo！〃 cried the Prince； 〃thou art a gallant lance： but
why didst not rap the Schelm's brain out？〃
〃Bring me a fresh helmet！〃 yelled the Rowski。 Another casque was
brought to him by his trembling squire。
As soon as he had braced it； he drew his great flashing sword from
his side； and rushed at his enemy； roaring hoarsely his cry of
battle。 The unknown knight's sword was unsheathed in a moment； and
at the next the two blades were clanking together the dreadful
music of the combat！
The Donnerblitz wielded his with his usual savageness and activity。
It whirled round his adversary's head with frightful rapidity。 Now
it carried away a feather of his plume； now it shore off a leaf of
his coronet。 The flail of the thrasher does not fall more swiftly
upon the corn。 For many minutes it was the Unknown's only task to
defend himself from the tremendous activity of the enemy。
But even the Rowski's strength would slacken after exertion。 The
blows began to fall less thick anon； and the point of the unknown
knight began to make dreadful play。 It found and penetrated every
joint of the Donnerblitz's armor。 Now it nicked him in the
shoulder where the vambrace was buckled to the corselet； now it
bored a shrewd hole under the light brissart； and blood followed；
now； with fatal dexterity； it darted through the visor； and came
back to the recover deeply tinged with blood。 A scream of rage
followed the last thrust； and no wonder：it had penetrated the
Rowski's left eye。
His blood was trickling through a dozen orifices； he was almost
choking in his helmet with loss of breath； and loss of blood； and
rage。 Gasping with fury； he drew back his horse； flung his great
sword at his opponent's head； and once more plunged at him；
wielding his curtal…axe。
Then you should have seen the unknown knight employing the same
dreadful weapon！ Hitherto he had been on his defence； now he began
the attack； and the gleaming axe whirred in his hand like a reed；
but descended like a thunderbolt！ 〃Yield！ yield！ Sir Rowski；〃
shouted he； in a calm； clear voice。
A blow dealt madly at his head was the reply。 'Twas the last blow
that the Count of Eulenschreckenstein ever struck in battle！ The
curse was on his lips as the crushing steel descended into his
brain； and split it in two。 He rolled like a log from his horse：
his enemy's knee was in a moment on his chest； and the dagger of
mercy at his throat； as the knight once more called upon him to
yield。
But there was no answer from within the helmet。 When it was
withdrawn； the teeth were crunched together； the mouth that should
have spoken； grinned a ghastly silence： one eye still glared with
hate and fury； but it was glazed with the film of death！
The red orb of the sun was just then dipping into the Rhine。 The
unknown knight； vaulting once more into his saddle； made a graceful
obeisance to the Prince of Cleves and his daughter； without a word；
and galloped back into the forest； whence he had issued an hour
before sunset。
CHAPTER XIII。
THE MARRIAGE。
The consternation which ensued on the death of the Rowski； speedily
sent all his camp…followers； army； &c。 to the right…about。 They
struck their tents at the first news of his discomfiture； and each
man laying hold of what he could； the whole of the gallant force
which had marched under his banner in the morning had disappeared
ere the sun rose。
On that night； as it may be imagined； the gates of the Castle of
Cleves were not shut。 Everybody was free to come in。 Wine…butts
were broached in all the courts； the pickled meat prepared in such
lots for the siege was distributed among the people； who crowded to
congratulate their beloved sovereign on his victory； and the
Prince； as was customary with that good man； who never lost an
opportunity of giving a dinner…party； had a splendid entertainment
made ready for the upper classes； the whole concluding with a
tasteful display of fireworks。
In the midst of these entertainments； our old friend the Count of
Hombourg arrived at the castle。 The stalwart old warrior swore by
Saint Bugo that he was grieved the killing of the Rowski had been
taken out of his hand。 The laughing Cleves vowed by Saint Bendigo；
Hombourg could never have finished off his enemy so satisfactorily
as the unknown knight had just done。
But who was he？ was the question which now agitated the bosom of
these two old nobles。 How to find himhow to reward the champion
and restorer of the honor and happiness of Cleves？ They agreed
over supper that he should be sought for everywhere。 Beadles were
sent round the principal cities within fifty miles； and the
description of the knight advertised； in the Journal de Francfort
and the Allgemeine Zeitung。 The hand of the Princess Helen was
solemnly offered to him in these advertisements； with the reversion
of the Prince of Cleves's splendid though somewhat dilapidated
property。
〃But we don't know him； m