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excited to deliver his blow with calculation。 Blunt parried it with the clog
he held； and the next instant； dropping his weapon； gripped Myles tight
about the body； pinning his arms to his sides。
Myles also dropped the clog he held； and； wrenching out his right arm
with a sudden heave； struck Blunt full in the face； and then with another
blow sent him staggering back。 It all passed in an instant； the next the
three other bachelors were upon him； catching him by the body； the arms；
the legs。 For a moment or two they swayed and stumbled hither and thither；
and then down they fell in a struggling heap。
Myles fought like a wild…cat； kicking； struggling； scratching； striking
with elbows and fists。 He caught one of the three by his collar； and tore his
jacket open from the neck to the waist； he drove his foot into the pit of the
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stomach of another； and knocked him breathless。 The other lads not in the
fight stood upon the benches and the beds around； but such was the awe
inspired by the prestige of the bachelors that not one of them dared to lend
hand to help him； and so Myles fought his fierce battle alone。
But four to one were odds too great； and though Myles struggled as
fiercely as ever； by…and…by it was with less and less resistance。
Blunt had picked up the clog he had dropped when he first attacked the
lad； and now stood over the struggling heap； white with rage； the blood
running from his lip； cut and puffed where Myles had struck him； and
murder looking out from his face； if ever it looked out of the face of any
mortal being。
〃Hold him a little；〃 said he； fiercely； 〃and I will still him for you。〃
Even yet it was no easy matter for the others to do his bidding； but
presently he got his chance and struck a heavy； cruel blow at Myles's head。
Myles only partly warded it with his arm。 Hitherto he had fought in silence；
now he gave a harsh cry。
〃Holy Saints！〃 cried Edmund Wilkes。 〃They will kill him。〃
Blunt struck two more blows； both of them upon the body； and then at
last they had the poor boy down； with his face upon the ground and his
arms pinned to his sides； and Blunt； bracing himself for the stroke； with a
grin of rage raised a heavy clog for one terrible blow that should finish the
fight。
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CHAPTER 9
〃How now； messieurs？〃 said a harsh voice； that fell upon the turmoil
like a thunder…clap； and there stood Sir James Lee。 Instantly the struggle
ceased； and the combatants scrambled to their feet。
The older lads stood silent before their chief； but Myles was deaf and
blind and mad with passion； he knew not where he stood or what he said
or did。 White as death； he stood for a while glaring about him； catching his
breath convulsively。 Then he screamed hoarsely。
〃Who struck me？ Who struck me when I was down？ I will have his
blood that struck me！〃 He caught sight of Blunt。 〃It was he that struck
me！〃 he cried。 〃Thou foul traitor！ thou coward！〃 and thereupon leaped at
his enemy like a wild…cat。
〃Stop！〃 cried Sir James Lee； clutching him by the arm。
Myles was too blinded by his fury to see who it was that held him。 〃I
will not stop！〃 he cried； struggling and striking at the knight。 〃Let me go！ I
will have his life that struck me when I was down！〃
The next moment he found himself pinned close against the wall； and
then； as though his sight came back； he saw the grim face of the old one…
eyed knight looking into his。
〃Dost thou know who I am？〃 said a stern； harsh voice。
Instantly Myles ceased struggling； and his arms fell at his side。 〃Aye；〃
he said； in a gasping voice； 〃I know thee。〃 He swallowed spasmodically
for a moment or two； and then； in the sudden revulsion of feeling； burst
out sobbing convulsively。
Sir James marched the two off to his office； he himself walking
between them； holding an arm of each； the other lads following behind；
awe…struck and silent。 Entering the office； Sir James shut the door behind
him； leaving the group of squires clustered outside about the stone steps；
speculating in whispers as to what would be the outcome of the matter。
After Sir James had seated himself； the two standing facing him； he
regarded them for a while in silence。 〃How now； Walter Blunt；〃 said he at
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last； 〃what is to do？〃
〃Why； this；〃 said Blunt； wiping his bleeding lip。 〃That fellow； Myles
Falworth； hath been breeding mutiny and revolt ever sin he came hither
among us； and because he was thus mutinous I would punish him
therefor。〃
〃In that thou liest！〃 burst out Myles。 〃Never have I been mutinous in
my life。〃
〃Be silent； sir；〃 said Sir James； sternly。 〃I will hear thee anon。〃
〃Nay；〃 said Myles； with his lips twitching and writhing； 〃I will not be
silent。 I am friendless here； and ye are all against me； but I will not be
silent； and brook to have lies spoken of me。〃
Even Blunt stood aghast at Myles's boldness。 Never had he heard any
one so speak to Sir James before。 He did not dare for the moment even to
look up。 Second after second of dead stillness passed； while Sir James sat
looking at Myles with a stern； terrifying calmness that chilled him in spite
of the heat of his passion。
〃Sir；〃 said the old man at last； in a hard； quiet voice； 〃thou dost know
naught of rules and laws of such a place as this。 Nevertheless； it is time for
thee to learn them。 So I will tell thee now that if thou openest thy lips to
say only one single word more except at my bidding； I will send thee to
the black vault of the donjon to cool thy hot spirits on bread and water for
a week。〃 There was something in the measured quietness of the old
knight's tone that quelled Myles utterly and entirely。 A little space of
silence followed。 〃Now； then； Blunt；〃 said Sir James； turning to the
bachelor； 〃tell me all the ins and outs of this business without any more
underdealing。〃
This time Blunt's story； though naturally prejudiced in his own favor；
was fairly true。 Then Myles told his side of the case； the old knight
listening attentively。
〃Why； how now； Blunt；〃 said Sir James； when Myles had ended； 〃I
myself gave the lads leave to go to the river to bathe。 Wherefore shouldst
thou forbid one of them？〃
〃I did it but to punish this fellow for his mutiny；〃 said the bachelor。
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〃Methought we at their head were to have oversight concerning them。〃
〃So ye are；〃 said the knight； 〃but only to a degree。 Ere ye take it upon
ye to gainsay any of my orders or permits； come ye first to me。 Dost thou
understand？〃
〃Aye；〃 answered Blunt； sullenly。
〃So be it； and now get thee gone；〃 said the knight； 〃and let me hear no
more of beating out brains with wooden clogs。 An ye fight your battles； let
there not be murder in them。 This is twice that the like hath happed； gin I
hear more of such doings〃 He did utter his threat； but stopped short； and
fixed his one eye sternly upon the head squire。 〃Now shake hands； and be
ye friends；〃 said he； abruptly。
Blunt made a motion to obey； but Myles put his hand behind him。
〃Nay； I shake not hands with any one who struck me while I was
down。〃
〃So be it；〃 said the knight； grimly。 〃Now thou mayst go； Blunt。 Thou；
Falworth； stay； I would bespeak thee further。〃
〃Tell me；〃 said he； when the elder lad had left them； 〃why wilt thou
not serve these bachelors as the other squires do？ Such is the custom here。
Why wilt thou not obey it？〃
〃Because；〃 said Myles； 〃I cannot stomach it； and they shall not make
me serve them。 An thou bid me do it； sir； I will do it； but not at their
command。〃
〃Nay；〃 said the knight； 〃I do not bid thee do them service。 That lieth
with thee； to render or not； as thou seest fit。 But how canst thou hope to
fight single…handed against the commands of a dozen lads all