Part 10 (1/2)
”Be easy, lording--your bow shall not be at fault if the prize does not fall to your hand Follow me”
They were now at the wicket, and Warrenton produced his authority
Gah They were ushered into a small box near by the Sheriff's own, and there awaited events
First cale-stick and quarter-staff, and Master Will was keen to take part in these contests Warrenton counselled hiround, however
”The folk are sure to recognize you,Stuteley his favorite name for him, ”and there will be an outcry Let be, then, and attend to your master”
”It would be better, Will, I do think,” said Robin ”I have to find out cousin Geoffrey, and warn hi for hiave them briefly the history of his adventure
Ere he had ended the story, the Sheriff held up his baton as a sign that the jousting would begin Two knights rode into the ring through the hastily opened gates, heralded by their esquires--amid the noise of a shrill blast of defiance They were clad in chain-mail, bound on and about hite riband, and their armor was burnished in a manner auntlets before the box of Master Monceux, and challenged the world to a trial of strength in these the lists-hts had ridden into the lists in answer to the challenge; and now all clairl, with straw-colored hair andways, announced in inaudible voice the terms of the contest The heralds repeated them afterwards in stentorian tones; and the rivals wheeled about, the white knights couching their lances from under the Sheriff's box The others prepared thenal
This was given, and the four rushed together with a shock like a thunder-clap These four knights gave good account of thehts had been unhorsed, and now they lay helpless in their heavy arer to renew the fray, and were soon again in readiness At the second tilt they rudely unhorsed the white knights by sheer strength of arm; and all the people shouted the went on; and, after the white knights had eventually won the first round, yellow and red took their places Robin eagerly scanned the latter, trying to discover which of the two ht be Geoffrey A ser to discover Montfichet in this favorable apparel; and evidently had sharper eyes than had Robin in piercing disguise This wizened-faced fellow leaned back with satisfied s out his tablets, he wrote on them, and despatched his man in haste to London town
Geoffrey was unhorsed in the second tilting; and lay so long upon the ground that Robin's heart stood still It was then discovered that this knight was unknown and had no esquire Thus Robin knew him for his cousin
”Attend him, Will, as you would myself,” cried Robin, anxiously, ”and see now to his hurt----”
”He is but dazed, hts are armored so heavily that once down they cannot of theear! I'd sooner have my own skin and be able to be spry in it What say you, old Warrenton?”
”Go to, malapert Get down to hiue”
”I go, I go--see how I go!” and Will turned a so out of the front of their box Robin called angrily on him to behave, and the little tumbler ran then to his duties as servant to the unknown Scarlet Knight
Robin's eager eyes roved hither and thither about the gay scene
Opposite hiround, wherein sat two people only One was a grave-faced man of courtly mien and handsome apparel: the other seemed to be his child
Towards one of these two persons Robin's glances for ever wandered The laughing blue eyes of the girl, the queer little toss of her head which she gave in her unheard answers to her sober father, heartily pleased young Fitzooth, and in souely disturbed his memory She was of about fifteen suht--and curled all ardly around her merry face Blue were her eyes when the quick fever induced by the tilting rushed in her blood--blue as meadow violets Then, when the exciterey wonderlances; and the second time her eyes shone blue, as if ashamed, and the tint of her warm cheeks deepened De Fitzooth turned to Warrenton: ”Can you tell me who these may be who sit alone in yon little box?” he asked, and cautiously pointed them out to the old retainer
Warrenton was stupid, however, and would not see exactly where Robin would have hi a discovery: ”Oh, 'tis Master Fitzwalter you entleates Next of iham town is he after Monceux, the Sheriff; and a prettier e of Gaham Castle than now, for we like not the Sheriff The maid with Master Fitzwalter is his only child She has no mother; and he is both parents to her Ay, a proper man----”
”She is very beautiful, I think,” said Robin, speaking his thoughts al it
”Yes, yes, a passable wench But I have no faith in the They are all as the Yellow One of Gamewell They smile upon you that they may work their will; and evil comes of their favor, if not death Now see----”
”You are crabbed, indeed, Warrenton; and I'll hear noDid I not say this was his child?”
”Has she no other name?” persisted Robin, patiently