fulfilling their duties as good Catholic Christians, and resuming their journey, arrived without accident at Santiago, where they accomplished their vows with all possible devotion.  They determined not to quit their pilgrim garbs until they reached their homes.  After travelling towards them leisurely, they came at last to a rising ground whence Leocadia and Teodosia looked down upon their respective birth-places, nor could they restrain their tears at the glad sight which brought back to their recollection all their past vicissitudes.

From the same spot they discovered a broad valley, which divided the two townships, and in it they saw under the shades of an olive a stalwart knight, mounted on a powerful charger, armed with a strong keen lance and a dazzlingly white shield.  Presently they saw issuing from among some olive trees two other knights similarly armed, and of no less gallant appearance.  These two rode up to the first, and after remaining awhile together they separated.  The first knight and one of the two others set spurs to their horses, and charging each other like mortal enemies, began mutually to deal such vigorous thrusts, and to avoid or parry them with such dexterity, that it was plain they were masters in that exercise.  The third knight remained a spectator of the fight without quitting his place.  Don Rafael, who could not be content with a distant view of the gallant conflict, hurried down the hill, followed by the other three, and came up close to the two champions just as they had both been slightly wounded.  The helmet of one of them had fallen off, and as he turned his face towards Don Rafael, the latter recognised his father, and Marco Antonio knew that the other was his own, whilst Leocadia discovered hers in the third knight who had not fought.  Astounded at this spectacle, the two brothers instantly rushed between the champions, crying out “Stop, cavaliers!  Stop!  We who call on you to do so are your own sons!  Father, I am Marco Antonio, for whose sake, as I guess, your honoured life is put to this peril.  Allay your anger; cast away your weapons, or turn them against another enemy; for the one before you must henceforth be your brother.”

The two knights instantly stopped; and looking round they observed that Don Sancho had dismounted and was embracing his daughter, who briefly narrated to him the occurrences at Barcelona.  Don Sancho was proceeding to make peace between the combatants, but there was no need of that, for he found them already dismounted and embracing their sons with tears of joy.  There now appeared at the entrance of the valley a great number of armed men on foot and on horseback:  these were the vassals of the three knights, who had come to support the cause of their respective lords; but when they saw them embracing the pilgrims they halted, and knew not what to think until Don Sancho briefly recounted to them what he had learned from his daughter.  The joy of all was unbounded.