ack into the arms of
another who advanced.

Again there fell a pause. Then silently a Roundhead charged Sir Crispin
with a pike. He leapt nimbly aside, and the murderous lunge shot past
him; as he did so he dropped his left-hand sword and caught at the
halberd. Exerting his whole strength in a mighty pull, he brought
the fellow that wielded it toppling forward, and received him on his
outstretched blade.

Covered with blood--the blood of others--Crispin stood before them now.
He was breathing hard and sweating at every pore, but still grim and
defiant. His strength, he realized, was ebbing fast. Yet he shook
himself, and asked them with a gibing laugh did they not think that they
had better shoot him.

The Roundheads paused again. The fight had lasted but a few moments,
and already five of them were stretched upon the ground, and a sixth
disabled. There was something in the Tavern Knight's attitude and
terrific, blood-bespattered appearance that deterred them. From out
of his powder-blackened face his eyes flashed fiercely, and a mocking
diabolical smile played round the corners of his mouth. What manner
of man, they asked themselves, was this who could laugh in such an
extremity? Superstition quickened their alarm as they gazed upon
his undaunted front, and told themselves this was no man they fought
against, but the foul fiend himself.

"Well, sirs," he mocked them presently. "How long am I to await your
pleasure?"

They snarled for answer, yet hung back until Colonel Pride's voice
shook them into action. In a body they charged him now, so suddenly and
violently that he was forced to give way. Cunningly did he ply his sword
before them, but ineffectually. They had adopted fresh tactics, and
engaging his blade they acted cautiously and defensively, advancing
steadily, and compelling him to fall back.

Sir Crispin guessed their scheme at last, and vainly did he try to hold
his ground; his retreat slackened perhaps, but it was still a retreat,
and their defensive action gave him no opening. Vainly, yet by every
trick of fence he was master of, did he seek to lure the two foremost
into attacking him; stolidly they pursued the adopted plan, and steadily
they impelled him backward.

At last he reached the staircase, and he realized that did he allow
himself to go farther he was lost irretrievably. Yet farther was he
driven; despite the strenuous efforts he put forth, until on his right
there was room for a man to