ddenly his cudgel shot out,
came with a sullen crack on Sir Blaise's skull, and the tussle was
over. Sir Blaise was lying his length on the grass, very still, and
there was blood upon his ruddy hair.

Brilliana in hiding gave a little gasp when she saw her neighbor
fall; she could not tell whether to laugh or cry at the defeat of the
Cavalier. She saw Halfman bend over the fallen man and lift his head
upon his knee. She saw Evander advance and look down upon his
adversary.

"I hope you are not hurt," Evander said, solicitously.

Halfman glanced up at the victor. "No harm's done," he said. "He was
stunned for the moment; he is coming round."

And in confirmation of his words Sir Blaise opened his eyes, and then
with difficulty sat up and stared ruefully at Evander.

"Gogs!" he said, first rubbing his head and then looking at his
reddened palm. "Gogs! That was a swinging snip. I am as dizzy as a
winged pigeon."

"Let me help you to rise," Evander said, courteously. Blaise shook
his aching head.

"I am none too fluttered to find my feet," he asserted, ignoring the
fact that his rising from the ground to an erect posture was entirely
due to the combined efforts of Halfman and Evander, one on each
side, and then, when he did get to his feet, he was only able to
retain the perpendicular by leaning heavily upon Halfman as a steady
prop. From under his bandaged forehead his pale-blue eyes regarded
Evander with no trace of enmity.

"Your hand, Puritan--your hand!" he cried. "'Tis just that we clasp
hands after a scuffle."

Puritan and Cavalier clasped hands in a hearty grip. "I am at your
service," Evander said, gravely. "Shall we continue?" Sir Blaise
shook his head again.

"I have had my bellyful," he grunted. "There was breakfast, dinner,
supper in your stroke. I must to the house to find vinegar and brown
paper to patch my poll."

"Can I aid you?" Evander offered. "I have some slight skill in
surgery."

"Leave him to me," Halfman interposed. "I have botched as many heads
as I have broken."

Sir Blaise, leaning heavily on Halfman's arm, replied to Evander's
offer in his own way.

"I will not have you mend ill what you have marred well. Come,
crutch, let us be jogging. We will meet again another time, my
fighting Puritan."

Evander made him a bow. "At your pleasure," he replied, and stood
till Sir Blaise, leaning on Halfman, had hobbled out of the
pleasaunce and limped out of sight. Then he drew on his j