him in secret. Young
Aguilar immediately advanced with visible surprise and pleasure, and
pledged himself for his new companion. This circumstance, no less than
the general appearance of the champion in question, commanded universal
interest and attention. He was completely accoutred in a blue steel
armour, over which he wore a short mantle of black velvet, sumptuously
adorned with gold. On his burnished helmet he wore a profusion of white
and sable feathers, and on his lance streamed a pennon of the same
colours. His breast was covered with a ponderous shield, bearing no
device, but the solitary motto--"_Conocelle por sus fechos._"[8] The
incognito knight brought with him neither squire nor page, and there was
an air of mystery about his person that tended considerably to heighten
the interest which his sudden appearance had already excited.

He now rushed impetuously towards the castle, when the charger seemed to
be under no command, and the knight was apparently in peril of being
dashed to pieces;--a simultaneous cry of terror burst from the
surrounding multitude, when the incognito knight on the point of being
hurled against the wall of the castle, and at the distance of scarcely
two feet, suddenly reined up, and both he and his charger appeared
rooted to the ground. A burst of admiration now superseded the terror
which his precipitous career had occasioned, and every one was lost in
conjectures relating to the incognito knight. The noble arrogance of the
motto--"_Conocelle por sus fechos_," made them better appreciate the
feat he had just performed. He advanced to the gong, and sounded a
redoubled and protracted peal, and flourishing his lance in the face of
the castle and tents, indicated his willingness to do battle with all.
This daring act excited a second burst of applause, and the astonished
challengers appeared at the castle in a mood of mixed perplexity and
indignant pride. The incognito knight, however, vaulted on his charger,
and then retreated to await the pleasure of the _Mantenedor_; who,
according to rank, was the first to engage. The flourish of trumpets
acted as a signal, and the champions rushed against each other at full
speed; the shock was tremendous--the lances were shivered, and the
powerful chargers staggered with the violent concussion. The champions
taking new lances, prepared for a second encounter, when the horse of
the _Mantenedor_, either from sudden fright or other cause, swerved in
t