and in his turn gave back. Yes, now it was
Lozelle who rocked and reeled. Ay, by St. Chad! Lozelle who went
down beneath that mighty blow which missed the head but fell upon
his shoulder, and lay there like a log, till presently the
moonlight shone upon his mailed hand stretched upward in a prayer
for mercy. From house-top and terrace wall, from soaring gates
and battlements, the multitude of the people of the Assassins
gathered on either side the gulf broke into a roar that beat up
the mountain sides like a voice of thunder. And the roar shaped
itself to these words:

"Kill him! kill him! kill him!"

Sinan held up his hand, and a sudden silence fell. Then he, too,
screamed in his thin voice:

"Kill him! He is conquered!"

But the great Wulf only leaned upon the cross-handle of his
brand, and looked at the fallen foe. Presently he seemed to speak
with him; then Lozelle lifted the blade that lay beside him and
gave it to him in token of surrender. Wulf handled it awhile,
shook it on high in triumph, and whirled it about his head till
it shone in the moonlight. Next, with a shout he cast it from him
far into the gulf, where it was seen for a moment, an arc of
gleaming light, and the next was gone.

Now, taking no more heed of the conquered knight, Wulf turned and
began to walk towards his horse.

Scarcely was his back towards him when Lozelle was on his feet
again, a dagger in his hand.

"Look behind you!" yelled Godwin; but the spectators, pleased
that the fight was not yet done, broke into a roar of cheers.
Wulf heard and swung round. As he faced Lozelle the dagger struck
him on the breast, and well must it have been for him that his
mail was good. To use his sword he had neither space nor time,
but ere the next stroke could fall Wulf's arms were about
Lozelle, and the fight for life begun.

To and fro they reeled and staggered, whirling round and round,
till none could tell which of them was Wulf or which his foe. Now
they were on the edge of the abyss, and, in that last dread
strain for mastery, seemed to stand there still as stone. Then
one man began to bend down. See! his head hung over. Further and
further he bent, but his arms could not be loosened.

"They will both go!" cried the multitude in their joy.

Look! A dagger flashed. Once, twice, thrice it gleamed, and those
wrestlers fell apart, while from deep down in the gulf came the
thud of a fallen body.

"Which--oh, which?" cried Rosamund from h