Part 8 (1/2)
The sun was no longer shi+ning where we stood, but the top of the great tree still caught his last gleams as he sank below the horizon As the last of these rays left the old oak our tian to strip for the encounter We took off our cloaks, belts and doublets, and gave them unto our seconds, who laid them in two heaps, one on each side of the open space I rolled up ht sleeve to the shoulder, and Harleston handed unto ether in whispers, for awith his back to the tree, said in a loud clear voice:--
”Gentlereed, in your behalf, in case either of you should be disarmed, or placed in a position where it should be iht shall be stopped until such ti
Both Sir Frederick and I do insist that this rule shall be observed, othere do refuse to act Should either of you take advantage of your opponent's being unarmed or placed _hors de co this rule shall be proclailand This shall be his punishhtly conduct Have I made all perfectly clear?”
We both replied in the affirreed to be bound by this rule, which was a very humane and fair one
Ratcliffe then took his place behind Catesby, and Harleston behind iven, and we approached each other cautiously, each looking for an opening Then our swords ca each other like two icicles being rubbed together The ainst mine I knew that I had not been misinforreatest swordsan to play on either side of mine with such rapidity as warned ot ed with e swiftness, his point aiuard, and for the next feweach other with an occasional lunge Then he changed his tactics, in the twinkling of an eye, and flew atHis sword see in her up and near unto round, as it had been the part of a fool to stand still in an attack of this kind, which I knew could be of no long duration
In this I was right; for seeing that he could not reachhimself out with this furious pace, he slowed his attack soes I no that I could, in a short ti a cool head and a wary eye Soon I touched hi his shi+rt stained with his blood This, however, seemed to refresh hiain coround In this I did not divine his object, which was to force e e than the others, I felt uard He seized the opportunity, and drove his sword at th in his villainous body I stepped aside, and gave hiht shoulder, near the neck However, I had not been quick enough; for I felt a sharp twinge in the fleshy part of my left arm, as he nailed it to the oak His sword snapped off short, and I was left pinned to the tree, as I have seen boys do with butterflies Catesby fell, bathed in blood; but methinks it were more from exhaustion than from his wound that he did fall; for the latter was but little more serious than mine own Sir Frederick pulled at the blade with his handkerchief wound around his hand, and at length set ained consciousness, and ere bandaged carefully with cloths that had been brought for the purpose
[Illustration: ”The signal was then given”]
As I saw hiretted that I had not given him my point lower down
But there caiven ten years ofthe world of this accursed villain
But ye, e of that later on in this story
CHAPTER IX
THE KING'S DEATH
Mine arm was quite sore and stiff for some weeks; but as I had at that time no duties to attend to, it did attract but little attention I kept to h the park with reatly alarmed when she learned that I had been wounded; and she lectured ers,” as she was pleased to call the up at me with her head held to the one side, and her face most serious, ”if thou shouldst be killed, it would kill ht no h when thou, as a soldier, hast to fight battles; but this murder should not be per,” I replied, ”when one e himself”
”Yes, but if men would ever learn not to insult each other there should be then no cause for these horrible affairs”
I atteue the point with her; but found it of no avail Had I been the age I now aht have saved iven up the task of trying to convince her that I was right, ”I alad that thou didst wound him”
”Why?” I asked
”Well,” she said, slowly, and at the saht of the ball--” and she stopped there long enough for a very pretty blush to cover her face, as a veil, ”the impudent fellow had the temerity to try and rasped my scabbard, and started my wound to pain afresh ”I'll kill the knave the first ti of the kind That was the reason I did not tell thee ere this; I kneould set thee mad Oh, dear! thou hast such an evil teh; so pro about another duel;” and she laid her hand on mine arm, and coaxed h later I did regret it
Since the night of the ball the King's health had been getting worse with every day that passed His Majesty, seeing that he had not long to live, now called awith each other, for the purpose of reconciling them; for he feared, that when he should be dead, their quarrels er the rule of his son
These parties, as ye must all knoere, first--the Queen and her favorites, secondly--Buckingham and the ed s--and thirdly,--Gloucester himself, for the reason that he did not wish to be connected with--and so be dependent on--either of the other parties
When all these were co addressed them thus:--”You all dom, where I have had such strife and yet such happiness, to join that other land to which spirits alone can go Before I leave it is my pleasure to have ye all at peace with one another In case this strife should continue, it will surely lead to great troubles for poor England, which we all do love so dearly Therefore, my faithful subjects and friends, bethink ye of your duty Here in this room, before ye leave my presence, I wish to see ye all embrace each other and swear by ether