. I will not stay you."

"Now will I trounce you right well, stripling," cried the tall man,
grasping his cudgel. He made a pass or two with it about the head of the
youth.

The latter jumped back and fitted an arrow to his bow.

"Nay, by my body, but this is ungenerous of you, forester," cried the
tall man. "I have only a stick and you have a bow! If we are to fight,
surely you might fight fairly."

Again the youth laughed brightly. "Nay, by my inches, friend," replied
he, "but how can we fight fairly with staves when you are so much the
bigger?"

"Cut yourself a longer cudgel, friend," retorted the big fellow.

The youth threw down his bow, and, opening a knife which hung at his
waist, went forthwith towards the nearest bush. He cut himself a stout
ash staff and fell to trimming it deftly.

When it was complete he came coolly up to his foe.

"Make ready, friend," said he, giving his cudgel a twirl. "Now take tune
from me. One, two----"

"Three!" roared the giant, smiting at him instantly.

The fight was a long one, for the youth had such skill and so ready a
guard that the other but wasted his anger on him. This "stripling"
jumped from one side to the other so lightly and unexpectedly, and
parried each thrust so surely, that presently the giant relaxed a little
from the fury of his onslaught. Then the youth ran in and gave him such
a crack as to make the welkin ring.

"By my life, but you can hit hard!" cried the giant, dropping his stick
that he might rub his pate. "For so small a man that was a right hearty
blow." He picked up his stick again. "Fall to, spitfire. I am ready!"

They sparred for a minute longer, and then the giant had his chance. He
caught the jumping youth so sound a thwack as to send him flying over
the low parapet of the bridge far into the bubbling brook. "How now,
spitfire? Have you had enough?"

"Marry, that have I," spluttered his antagonist, trying to scramble out
of the rushing water. Then he became dizzy again, and fell back with a
little cry.

The big man vaulted down to his help, and plucked his foe to the bank.
There he laid him down on the grassy sward and fell to bathing his brows
with handfuls of fresh water till the youth opened his eyes again.

"Friend," said the stripling, gravely, sitting up, "you dealt me that
blow most skilfully. Tell me your name."

"Why," said the giant, a little awkwardly, "as for the blow, 'twas but
an under-cut that I know well. My name i