d beside it, and selecting their tents,
they again retreated. The five challengers next presented themselves,
and a desperate encounter was anticipated. Indeed ten more valiant
knights were scarcely to be found in all Spain, and their acknowledged
skill promised a display of more than usual interest for the beholders.

At the signal given, they rushed impetuously forward, yet such was their
perfection in horsemanship, and so well trained and disciplined were
their chargers, that they all arrived at the middle of the lists at the
same time, meeting in a shock, the abrupt and fearful clash of which
seemed as if it had been the effect of a single but awful concussion.
The lances were splintered to the very hilts, but the knights resumed
their places amidst the loud applause of the multitude. Again they
darted with the velocity of the wind, and again they met with the same
precision, but not with the same success; for in this encounter the
challengers were considered the victors--the two chiefs alone having
sustained no injury--their lances broke as before, but they remained
firm and erect in their saddle. Not so with the rest--for young Don
Pedro was not able to withstand the superior force of Ponce de Leon's
more manly age. Garcilaso was unhorsed by Don Antonio de Leyva, and the
two others sustained great inconvenience from the Alcayde and Count
Cifuentes.

The shouts of the spectators, and the flourish of instruments,
proclaimed the victory of the _Mantenedor_ and his supporters, who
retired to the castle with their good fortune, ready to meet the demands
of all other adventurers. The chief of the vanquished party who had so
handsomely maintained his ground against the Maestre, now signified his
intention of encountering that champion singly; but in this he was
opposed by the marshals of the games, who declared that after the demand
of his challenge had been acceded to, he could not, according to the
rules, encounter again the same knight on that day. The matter was
referred to the judges, who decided against the stranger chief, and he
was accordingly obliged to desist from his purpose.

Great was the joy of the _Mantenedor_ and his associates, who, having
vanquished the most formidable knights, proudly imagined that all who
might now appear, would afford an easy victory. Indeed this opinion
seemed generally to prevail, as for some time no one shewed himself in
the lists to dispute their supremacy.

Don Pedro, vexed