Part 3 (1/2)
”A good shot, for the distance, upon mine honour,” cried Sir Frederick, as we leapt down behind the shelter of the friendly hill We ran quickly along the ravine in the direction of the ca, said:--”Suppose we see froo any further If they be but a few archers or hts should drive the rascals before theh ear not our full armour What dost thou say, Bradley, shall we try conclusions with them?”
Readily did I consent to the adventure; for never in my life have I been known to require a second invitation of this sort We concealed ourselves behind some shrubs, and there aited our pursuers
Presently we beheld the place, we could see e should have to face They were three men, armed with swords such as are used by the Scotch, and which they do e more after the fashi+on of a club, than any other weapon one could compare their use with Their bows they had evidently thrown aside, for their e at their sides However, they also carried a se over us, who had nothing but our good swords hich to protect ourselves When they came near the place where ere concealed they stopped and held a short consultation
”I saw them stop about this place,” said one
”No, methinks they went further on,” said another
”Well, we had better search here anyway,” added the third, ”for it will not be safe for us to venture much more close unto the outposts”
And then they did commence to search the shrubbery all around us
Nearer did they drahere aited, swords in hands Presently one came and thrust his sword into the bushes behind which ere hiding That was the last thrust he ever made I was upon him in a moment, and buried my sword up to its hilt in the fellow's chest He sank to the ground, but as he did so he uttered a gurgling yell, the which did bring his companions unto that spot
”Now, Harleston, we shall have soe with the first of these new arrivals My friend quickly met the other, and we fell to in a lively fashi+on I soon forced etting past his shi+eld
”Now, ht place,” said I, as I prepared to give him his quietus Then, just as I did step forward, to run the knave through, my foot slipped on one of those accursed stones, and I sat down as nicely as I could have done in e blow at round and raising the hilt, I caught the stroke upon it Then, reaching swiftly forward, I grasped hiround Ere he could er, I stabbed him to the heart
When I had done forwith his They were still at it for dear life and Sir Frederick did seem to be bothered with the way the Scotcher and ed, and did seeround Still would I not interfere, for well did I know that hting against a single foe At length the Scotch, backhand stroke, full at Sir Frederick's neck It was a savage blow, and I did greatly fear ood comrade Harleston, however, dropped quickly to one knee, and as his opponent's blade whistled hared his sword into his adversary's side
”Well done!” cried I ”A pretty piece of work, upon my soul, was that fall of thine”
”I see that thou hast settled with thy man,” said he; ”but this one did compel me to use mine artifice”
With this we took their swords, as reht's work, and walked slowly back to ca been the first to draw blood, and for having found so and tedious journey
When we reached caer had returned with an answer froe was evidently a refusal to comply with the Duke's demand; for we did at once receive orders to be in readiness to commence the attack at sunrise
When we retired, Frederick and I occupied--as was our wont--the sa I heard, as I fell into a peaceful sleep, was the sounds of the anvils of the ar ready for a day of battle
CHAPTER IV
THE TAKING OF BERWICK
The next , ere aroused by our squires, who, after bringing us our breakfasts, of which we ate heartily, got our armour and laid it out and ready So soon as we had finished with our repast, ere buckled and laced into our harness, and then, as everything was ready for the march, we did set forth
We had not travelled above aforce of the ene towards us, evidently with the intention of attacking our right flank This was the part of the ar been sent there with a body of other knights to add soth, the which was so, which was led by the Duke of Albany, as a brother of the Scottish King, Jaht--but then, royal brothers are ever longing to kill each other
As we came over the brow of a hill we could see a considerable body of knights andslowly towards us, as the er had said
Our archers were now thrown out in front, the knights followed, and thenear unto the foe we beheld theiron our centre, which was led by the Duke of Gloucester hied, and then we had not time to see how the Duke did receive the Scotch of them, or rather their arrohich poured down on either side like rain
When this long distance battle had gone on for a short space we thought it tilory go to the archers Therefore, the coht, past thee, swung the double ranks of ures, and then, e had cleared our archers, we placed our lances in the rests, and came down upon the enee position, and, though they be thick-skulled knaves, they did divine our object, ere our plan was carried out Their knights dashed forward at the same time as did we, and we met before their archers with a crash that was heard for the distance of a ht, which, by his size, and the way he sat his horse, led me to think he should be a foeman worthy of my steel In this I was not disappointed; for e met in the front rank, each had aimed at the centre of the other's shi+eld, and it is seldom that I have ever had so heavy a shock Both our lances flew into a thousand pieces, as though they had been made of straw Mine opponent's horse was forced back upon his haunches, and he was like to lose his seat
But he did recover hireat ability I had scarce ti at my head so rapidly as to take allfuriously at each other, which bloe guarded with equal quickness Neither had any advantage, as we seeth and skill After forcing hih whether frouile I do not know I aiht it upon the hilt of his sword The force of the bloas so great that ht mine end had coain Toto the effect that we should ain, and rode off