ir and true he hit the Norman on
the visor, where his lance's point kept hold of the bars. Yet, even at
this disadvantage, the Templar sustained his high reputation; and had
not the girths of his saddle burst, he might not have been unhorsed. As
it chanced, however, saddle, horse, and man rolled on the ground under a
cloud of dust.

To extricate himself from the stirrups and fallen steed was to the
Templar scarce the work of a moment; and, stung with madness, both at
his disgrace and at the acclamations with which it was hailed by the
spectators, he drew his sword and waved it in defiance of his conqueror.
The Disinherited Knight sprung from his steed, and also unsheathed his
sword. The marshals of the field, however, spurred their horses between
them, and reminded them that the laws of the tournament did not, on the
present occasion, permit this species of encounter.

"We shall meet again, I trust," said the Templar, casting a resentful
glance at his antagonist; "and where there are none to separate us."

"If we do not," said the Disinherited Knight, "the fault shall not be
mine. On foot or horseback, with spear, with axe, or with sword, I am
alike ready to encounter thee."

More and angrier words would have been exchanged, but the marshals,
crossing their lances between them, compelled them to separate. The
Disinherited Knight returned to his first station, and Bois-Guilbert to
his tent, where he remained for the rest of the day in an agony of
despair.

Without alighting from his horse, the conqueror called for a bowl of
wine, and opening the beaver, or lower part of his helmet, announced
that he quaffed it, "To all true English hearts, and to the confusion
of foreign tyrants." He then commanded his trumpet to sound a defiance
to the challengers, and desired a herald to announce to them that he
should make no election, but was willing to encounter them in the order
in which they pleased to advance against him.

[Illustration: DISINHERITED KNIGHT UNHORSES BRIAN]

The gigantic Front-de-Boeuf, armed in sable armor, was the first who
took the field. He bore on a white shield a black bull's head,[59-8]
half defaced by the numerous encounters which he had undergone, and
bearing the arrogant motto, _Cave, Adsum_.[59-9] Over this champion the
Disinherited Knight obtained a slight but decisive advantage. Both
knights broke their lances fairly, but Front-de-Boeuf, who lost a
stirrup in the encounter, was adjudged to hav