the other knave pinned me against the bastion, and I
for five good minutes stuck at sword-play with him, he waxing each
moment more wild and fierce, I striving to remember and show forth in
act all that I had learned of defence.

"Play not longer with the lad, Guilbert," quoth one behind, "or he will
breathe thee." And at this cry shame stung him, and he waxed more
dreadful fierce, and I within me seemed to hear a voice say "Keep cool,
and all is well!" So, wonderful to tell, the more he raged the more cool
was I, and little strange was it that he, sweeping the air with wild
thrust and parry, met ere long in his heart the clean stroke of my
sword, and I, quivering and half appalled as I drew it reeking forth,
was forced in a moment to be on guard again, for another rogue was at
me. Yet, with a wild gladness, I saw the villain roll moaning at my
feet, and the new rogue found himself involved at once in a battle with
two--myself and a stout farmer, who, seeing me in danger, had rushed in
to my defence. He, with sheer strength, beat down his sword, and sore
wounded him, catching himself a scar meanwhile, and so I had time to
glance and see how the battle went.

Still Hugo stood like a king of swordsmen, and around him lay those that
he or others mustering to his defence had slain--some five or six--and
now he was engaged with one that seemed the captain of that storming
party--as I believe, an Englishman, cold and resolute, and thereby the
more dangerous. And I dreaded, for I saw Hugo grow wilder in his stroke,
and moreover weaker and weary withal with his great prowess. And I
seemed almost to see with my eyes what I dreaded--that the Englishman
should tire him out, and then take him where he would; so, careless of
rule, I ran and struck forth at him on the left, and for a moment he
kept us both in play. And then Hugo, gathering himself now as for a
final stroke, struck him below the tunic, and he too fell among the
slain or wounded.

Then we looked round. "It was done warily and bravely, lad," he said.
"Maybe thine arm saved my life. But see! No longer they leap our wall,
and but few are left to slay."

"See, see!" I cried in exultation, "they rush back! We have them now in
the rear."

And so we had in faith, for the scant dozen that were yet unharmed were
easy prey as they fled, choosing to risk their bones as they dropped, or
clung with a bare chance of life, to be cut to pieces by us; for it was
clear that Le Gr