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〃Nay； my dear master；〃 said Myles； 〃I will do my best。〃
〃I doubt it not；〃 said the old man； 〃and I believe me thou wilt come off
right well。 From what he did say this morning； methinks the Sieur de la
Montaigne meaneth only to break three lances with thee； and will content
himself therewith； without seeking to unhorse thee。 Ne'theless； be thou
bold and watchful； and if thou find that he endeavor to cast thee； do thy
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best to unhorse him。 Remember also those things which I have told thee
ten thousand times before： hold thy toes well down and grip the stirrup
hard； more especially at the moment of meeting； bend thy body forward；
and keep thine elbow close to thy side。 Bear thy lance point one foot
above thine adversary's helm until within two lengths of meeting； and
strike thou in the very middle of his shield。 So； Myles； thou mayst hold
thine own； and come off with glory。〃
As he ended speaking he drew back； and Gascoyne； mounting upon a
stool； covered his friend's head and bascinet with the great jousting helm；
making fast the leathern points that held it to the iron collar。
As he was tying the last thong a messenger came from the Herald；
saying that the challenger was ready； and then Myles knew the time had
come； and reaching down and giving Sir James a grip of the hand； he drew
on his gauntlet； took the jousting lance that Wilkes handed him； and turned
his horse's head towards his end of the lists。
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CHAPTER 27
As Myles took his place at the south end of the lists； he found the
Sieur de la Montaigne already at his station。 Through the peep…hole in the
face of the huge helmet； a transverse slit known as the occularium； he
could see； like a strange narrow picture； the farther end of the lists； the
spectators upon either side moving and shifting with ceaseless restlessness；
and in the centre of all； his opponent； sitting with spear point directed
upward； erect； motionless as a statue of iron； the sunlight gleaming and
flashing upon his polished plates of steel； and the trappings of his horse
swaying and fluttering in the rushing of the fresh breeze。
Upon that motionless figure his sight gradually centred with every
faculty of mind and soul。 He knew the next moment the signal would be
given that was to bring him either glory or shame from that iron statue。 He
ground his teeth together with stern resolve to do his best in the coming
encounter； and murmured a brief prayer in the hallow darkness of his huge
helm。 Then with a shake he settled himself more firmly in his saddle；
slowly raised his spear point until the shaft reached the exact angle； and
there suffered it to rest motionless。 There was a moment of dead； tense；
breathless pause； then he rather felt than saw the Marshal raise his baton。
He gathered himself together； and the next moment a bugle sounded loud
and clear。 In one blinding rush he drove his spurs into the sides of his
horse； and in instant answer felt the noble steed spring forward with a
bound。
Through all the clashing of his armor reverberating in the hollow
depths of his helmet； he saw the mail…clad figure from the other end of the
lists rushing towards him； looming larger and larger as they came together。
He gripped his saddle with his knees； clutched the stirrup with the soles of
his feet； and bent his body still more forward。 In the instant of meeting；
with almost the blindness of instinct； he dropped the point of his spear
against the single red flower…de…luce in the middle of the on…coming shield。
There was a thunderous crash that seemed to rack every joint； he heard the
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crackle of splintered wood； he felt the momentary trembling recoil of the
horse beneath him； and in the next instant had passed by。 As he checked
the onward rush of his horse at the far end of the course； he heard faintly
in the dim hollow recess of the helm the loud shout and the clapping of
hands of those who looked on； and found himself gripping with nervous
intensity the butt of a broken spear； his mouth clammy with excitement；
and his heart thumping in his throat。
Then he realized that he had met his opponent； and had borne the
meeting well。 As he turned his horse's head towards his own end of the
lists； he saw the other trotting slowly back towards his station； also
holding a broken spear shaft in his hand。
As he passed the iron figure a voice issued from the helmet； 〃Well
done； Sir Myles； nobly done！〃 and his heart bounded in answer to the
words of praise。 When he had reached his own end of the lists； he flung
away his broken spear； and Gascoyne came forward with another。
〃Oh； Myles！〃 he said； with sob in his voice； 〃it was nobly done。 Never
did I see a better ridden course in all my life。 I did not believe that thou
couldst do half so well。 Oh； Myles； prithee knock him out of his saddle an
thou lovest me！〃
Myles； in his high…keyed nervousness； could not forbear a short
hysterical laugh at his friend's warmth of enthusiasm。 He took the fresh
lance in his hand； and then； seeing that his opponent was walking his horse
slowly up and down at his end of the lists； did the same during the little
time of rest before the next encounter。
When； in answer to the command of the Marshal； he took his place a
second time； he found himself calmer and more collected than before； but
every faculty no less intensely fixed than it had been at first。 Once more
the Marshal raised his baton； once more the horn sounded； and once more
the two rushed together with the same thunderous crash； the same splinter
of broken spears； the same momentary trembling recoil of the horse； and
the same onward rush past one another。 Once more the spectators
applauded and shouted as the two knights turned their horses and rode
back towards their station。
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This time as they met midway the Sieur de la Montaigne reined in his
horse。 〃Sir Myles；〃 said his muffled voice； 〃I swear to thee； by my faith； I
had not thought to meet in thee such an opponent as thou dost prove
thyself to be。 I had thought to find in thee a raw boy； but find instead a
Paladin。 Hitherto I have given thee grace as I would give grace to any
mere lad； and thought of nothing but to give thee opportunity to break thy
lance。 Now I shall do my endeavor to unhorse thee as I would an
acknowledged peer in arms。 Nevertheless； on account of thy youth； I give
thee this warning； so that thou mayst hold thyself in readiness。〃
〃I give thee gramercy for thy courtesy； my Lord；〃 answered Myles；
speaking in French； 〃and I will strive to encounter thee as best I may； and
pardon me if I seem forward in so saying； but were I in thy place； my Lord；
I would change me yon breast…piece and over…girth of my saddle； they are
sprung in the stitches。〃
〃Nay；〃 said the Sieur de la Montaigne； laughing； 〃breast…piece and
over…girth have carried me through more tilts than one； and shall through
this。 An thou give me a blow so true as to burst breast…piece and over…girth；
I will own myself fairly conquered by thee。〃 So saying； he saluted Myles
with the butt of the spear he still held； and passed by to his end of the lists。
Myles； with Gascoyne running beside him； rode across to his pavilion；
and called to Edmund Wilkes to bring him a cup of spiced wine。 After
Gascoyne had taken off his helmet； and as he sat wiping the perspiration
from his face Sir James came up and took him by the hand。
〃My dear boy；〃 said he； gripping the hand he held； 〃never could I hope
to be so overjoyed in mine old age as I am this day。 Thou dost bring honor
to me； for I tell thee t