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restless； bewildering multitude of strange faces turned towards him
recognized those that he knew： the Prince of Wales； his companions of the
Scotland Yard household； the Duke of Clarence； the Bishop of Winchester；
and some of the noblemen of the Earl of Mackworth's party； who had been
buzzing about the Prince for the past month or so。 But his glance swept
over all these； rather perceiving than seeing them； and then rested upon a
square box…like compartment not unlike a prisoner's dock in the courtroom
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of our day； for in the box sat his father； with the Earl of Mackworth upon
one side and Sir James Lee upon the other。 The blind man's face was very
pale； but still wore its usual expression of calm serenitythe calm serenity
of a blind face。 The Earl was also very pale； and he kept his eyes fixed
steadfastly upon Myles with a keen and searching look； as though to
pierce to the very bottom of the young man's heart； and discover if indeed
not one little fragment of dryrot of fear or uncertainty tainted the solid
courage of his knighthood。
Then he heard the criers calling the defendant at the four corners of the
list： 〃Oyez！ Oyez！ Oyez！ William Bushy Brookhurst； Earl of Alban； come
to this combat； in which you be enterprised this day to discharge your
sureties before the King； the Constable； and the Marshal； and to encounter
in your defence Myles Falworth； knight； the accepted champion upon
behalf of Gilbert Reginald Falworth； the challenger！ Oyez！ Oyez！ Oyez！
Let the defendant come！〃
So they continued calling； until； by the sudden turning of all faces；
Myles knew that his enemy was at hand。
Then presently he saw the Earl and his attendants enter the outer gate
at the west end of the barrier； he saw the Constable and Marshal meet him；
he saw the formal words of greeting pass； he saw the Constable raise the
umbril of the helmet。 Then the gate opened； and the Earl of Alban entered；
clad cap…a…pie in a full suit of magnificent Milan armor without juppon or
adornment of any kind。 As he approached across the lists； Myles closed
the umbril of his helmet； and then sat quite still and motionless； for the
time was come。
So he sat； erect and motionless as a statue of iron； half hearing the
reading of the long intricately… worded bills； absorbed in many thoughts of
past and present things。 At last the reading ended； and then he calmly and
composedly obeyed； under the direction of his attorney； the several forms
and ceremonies that followed； answered the various official questions；
took the various oaths。 Then Gascoyne； leading the horse by the bridle…
rein； conducted him back to his station at the east end of the lists。
As the faithful friend and squire made one last and searching
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examination of arms and armor； the Marshal and the clerk came to the
young champion and administered the final oath by which he swore that
he carried no concealed weapons。
The weapons allowed by the High Court were then measured and
attested。 They consisted of the long sword； the short sword； the dagger； the
mace； and a weapon known as the hand…gisarm； or glave… lota heavy
swordlike blade eight palms long； a palm in breadth； and riveted to a stout
handle of wood three feet long。
The usual lance had not been included in the list of arms； the hand…
gisarm being substituted in its place。 It was a fearful and murderous
weapon； though cumbersome； Unhandy； and ill adapted for quick or
dexterous stroke； nevertheless； the Earl of Alban had petitioned the King
to have it included in the list； and in answer to the King's expressed desire
the Court had adopted it in the stead of the lance； yielding thus much to
the royal wishes。 Nor was it a small concession。 The hand…gisarm had
been a weapon very much in vogue in King Richard's day； and was now
nearly if not entirely out of fashion with the younger generation of
warriors。 The Earl of Alban was； of course； well used to the blade； with
Myles it was strange and new； either for attack or in defence。
With the administration of the final oath and the examination of the
weapons； the preliminary ceremonies came to an end； and presently Myles
heard the criers calling to clear the lists。 As those around him moved to
withdraw； the young knight drew off his mailed gauntlet； and gave
Gascoyne's hand one last final clasp； strong； earnest； and intense with the
close friendship of young manhood； and poor Gascoyne looked up at him
with a face ghastly white。
Then all were gone； the gates of the principal list and that of the false
list were closed clashing； and Myles was alone； face to face； with his
mortal enemy。
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CHAPTER 33
There was a little while of restless； rustling silence； during which the
Constable took his place in the seat appointed for him directly in front of
and below the King's throne。 A moment or two when even the restlessness
and the rustling were quieted； and then the King leaned forward and spoke
to the Constable； who immediately called out； in a loud； clear voice。
〃Let them go！〃 Then again； 〃Let them go！〃 Then； for the third and last
time； 〃Let them go and do their endeavor； in God's name！〃
At this third command the combatants； each of whom had till that
moment been sitting as motionless as a statue of iron； tightened rein； and
rode slowly and deliberately forward without haste； yet without hesitation；
until they met in the very middle of the lists。
In the battle which followed； Myles fought with the long sword； the
Earl with the hand…gisarm for which he had asked。 The moment they met；
the combat was opened； and for a time nothing was heard but the
thunderous clashing and clamor of blows； now and then beating
intermittently； now and then pausing。 Occasionally； as the combatants
spurred together； checked； wheeled； and recovered； they would be hidden
for a moment in a misty veil of dust； which； again drifting down the wind；
perhaps revealed them drawn a little apart； resting their panting horses。
Then； again； they would spur together； striking as they passed； wheeling
and striking again。
Upon the scaffolding all was still； only now and then for the buzz of
muffled exclamations or applause of those who looked on。 Mostly the
applause was from Myles's friends； for from the very first he showed and
steadily maintained his advantage over the older man。 〃Hah！ well struck！
well recovered！〃 〃Look ye！ the sword bit that time！〃 〃Nay； look； saw ye
him pass the point of the gisarm？〃 Then； 〃Falworth！ Falworth！〃 as some
more than usually skilful stroke or parry occurred。
Meantime Myles's father sat straining his sightless eyeballs； as though
to pierce his body's darkness with one ray of light that would show him
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how his boy held his own in the fight； and Lord Mackworth； leaning with
his lips close to the blind man's ear； told him point by point how the battle
stood。
〃Fear not； Gilbert；〃 said he at each pause in the fight。 〃He holdeth his
own right well。〃 Then； after a while： 〃God is with us； Gilbert。 Alban is
twice wounded and his horse faileth。 One little while longer and the
victory is ours！〃
A longer and more continuous interval of combat followed this last
assurance； during which Myles drove the assault fiercely and unrelentingly
as though to overbear his enemy by the very power and violence of the
blows he delivered。 The Earl defended himself desperately； but was borne
back； back； back； farther and farther。 Every nerve of those who looked on
was stretched to breathless tensity； when； almost as his enemy was against
the barriers； Myle