at heart, now mounted a strong charger--rode up to the
castle, and challenged the _Mantenedor_ himself. Don Alonso de Aguilar
saw the noble daring of his son at once with pleasure and dismay; for
although he was overjoyed to perceive him possessed of such undaunted
courage, he yet trembled for the consequences of his temerity.

The gong sounded twice--the Maestre appeared, and was struck at the
presumption of the young adventurer.--They took their places--the
trumpets gave the signal--forward the champions started, and at the
first meeting displayed such an equality that the whole place rung with
acclamations. Indeed this was the most important encounter, and every
one waited its issue in breathless expectation--the ladies in
particular, always interested where youth dares against manhood, waved
their kerchiefs and scarfs to animate the young knight, whose heart in
sooth needed no such stimulus. In the second encounter, however, he was
not equally fortunate; for the _Mantenedor_, jealous of his fame, now
risked against a youth, stood more on his guard, and summoned all his
might and skill to his assistance.--Don Pedro was unable to withstand
the shock; the lance flew unharmed from his grasp, and he was compelled
to leave the field honorably, but still in possession of the
challengers.

The castle now sent forth a blast of clarions, in sign of triumph and
defiance, whilst at the pavilion, no knight evinced any desire of
renewing the engagement. In this state of suspense, some time elapsed,
and the heralds, according to form, proceeded to summon the knights
adventurers, but no one appeared--again ten minutes elapsed, and a
second summons was pronounced, but again it met with no answer. The
triumph of the _Mantenedor_ now seemed certain, and the heralds were
about to utter the third and last proclamation, when, lo! a knight was
seen riding at full speed towards the lists, and, after thundering at
the barrier for admittance, without further ceremony, was directing his
course to the castle, when his career was arrested by the marshals, as
no one could pretend to enter the lists against the challengers, without
previously delivering his name and titles, or at least presenting a
known friend to vouch for his being a true and loyal knight.

The incognito knight was accordingly obliged to give way; but making a
sign to the herald not to proceed to the third summons, he rode up to
Don Pedro and, taking him aside, conferred with