My master," answered Baldwin, "knows how to requite scorn with scorn,
and blows with blows, as well as courtesy with courtesy. Since you
disdain to accept from him any share of the ransom at which you have
rated the arms of the other knights, I must leave his armor and his
horse here, being well assured that he will never deign to mount the one
nor wear the other."

"You have spoken well, good squire," said the Disinherited Knight--"well
and boldly, as it beseemeth him to speak who answers for an absent
master. Leave not, however, the horse and armor here. Restore them to
thy master; or, if he scorns to accept them, retain them, good friend,
for thine own use. So far as they are mine, I bestow them upon you
freely."

Baldwin made a deep obeisance, and retired with his companions; and the
Disinherited Knight entered the pavilion.

Morning arose in unclouded splendor, and ere the sun was much above the
horizon the idlest or the most eager of the spectators appeared on the
common, moving to the lists as to a general centre, in order to secure a
favorable situation for viewing the continuation of the expected games.

The marshals and their attendants appeared next on the field, together
with the heralds, for the purpose of receiving the names of the knights
who intended to joust, with the side which each chose to espouse. This
was a necessary precaution in order to secure equality between the two
bodies who should be opposed to each other.

According to due formality, the Disinherited Knight was to be considered
as leader of the one body, while Brian de Bois-Guilbert, who had been
rated as having done second-best in the preceding day, was named first
champion of the other band. Those who had concurred in the challenge
adhered to his party, of course, excepting only Ralph de Vipont, whom
his fall had rendered unfit so soon to put on his armor. There was no
want of distinguished candidates to fill up the ranks on either side.

In fact, although the general tournament, in which all knights fought at
once, was more dangerous than single encounters, they were,
nevertheless, more frequented and practiced by the chivalry of the age.
Many knights, who had not sufficient confidence in their own skill to
defy a single adversary of high reputation, were, nevertheless, desirous
of displaying their valor in the general combat, where they might meet
others with whom they were more upon an equality.

On the present occasion, about