ILLUSTRATIONS

 

Now he raised himself on his arm and claimed the victory

 

Two huge stones, hurled by Alan the Armorer, came down on the heads of the luckless churls in the moat

 

Dame Franklin and the old soldier were frozen in their places

 

The force of my blow drove him backward, but my weapon pierced him not

 

We had gone scarce half a mile when ’twas plainly to be seen that my little mare was no match for the long-limbed steeds of the Carletons

 

While I spoke my mother had grown pale as death

 

Then Elbert did come to the mark and, with a merry grin, sent five arrows toward the target

 

We made a procession through the field, all the men and maidens shouting and dancing and making a most merry and heartening din

 

He gave no inch of ground save to leap from side to side in avoiding my downward strokes

 

In a twinkling armed and mounted men were all about us

 

Old Marvin had his cross-bow ready drawn, and he shot young Montalvan through the face at the very first onset

 

Hard we rode, indeed, and with little mercy on our mounts

 

The water at the ford was filled with mounted men and bullock carts, laden with spoil and making their difficult way through the swift-flowing current

 

The leader had his great sword thrust aside by Cedric’s bow, then was seized about the waist and hurled to the rocks below

 

Both were red of face with hurry, and their horses were well lathered and breathing hard

 

Then with loud menaces I drove him to the wall where I made him stand with hands above his head

 

Sir Cedric rose to his feet and for a moment looked from one to the other of our company

 

With a mighty shout, we rode down upon the bridge, trusting all to the darkness and the fury of our attack