The shock was fearful.  Many of the combatants were hurled to the earth; but the white plume still waved, and Rodolph of Suabia was in mortal combat with Godfrey de Bouillon.  The giant had singled out Sandrit of Stramen, who spurred to meet him with equal avidity.  In an instant both riders rolled in the dust.  The antagonist of Sir Sandrit was the first to rise, and as the knight of Stramen staggered to his feet, the battle-axe of his opponent was poised above his head.  A moment more and the Lady Margaret would have been an orphan—­for Frederick of Hohenstaufen’s strength was not to be babied by steel casque or bars of proof.  But the axe was destined to take another direction.  A mounted knight, spurring to the rescue of Sir Sandrit, was within a few bounds of the Lord of Hohenstaufen.  Sir Frederick saw his danger, and with wonderful quickness changed his aim, and discharged the ponderous weapon against this new assailant.  But the Suabian, displaying equal quickness, fell suddenly upon the neck of his steed, and the flying mass passed harmlessly over his head, grazing his crest.  But as the rider rose to his seat, a Bohemian knight, darting before Sir Frederick, checked his career.  Such was the fury of the onset that both were unhorsed.  The saddle-girths of the Suabian had given way, but the Bohemian fell, pierced by the spear of his antagonist.  The former sprang uninjured to his feet, and drawing his sword, rushed against the first object of his attack.  Sir Sandrit, dizzy from his first shock, was staggering beneath the heavy blows of his powerful opponent, as the knight whose advance we have marked, crying “God and Suabia!” turned aside a stroke aimed at the exhausted baron, and stepped between them.

“Who are you?” said the Lord of Hohenstaufen, parrying a blow and returning it.  “Your shield bears no device; beware lest you fall before it obtains one!”

“I shall take a device when I have earned one,” was the reply.  “My name would convey nothing to your ears.”

“Then perish in your insignificance!” exclaimed the giant, bringing down his sword with both hands.  But the blow was avoided with admirable agility, and the combat went on in silence.  It seemed as if the struggle could not last an instant, for Frederick towered full a foot above his adversary.  But the Lord of Hohenstaufen was fatigued by his passage with the Baron of Stramen, and his wonderful strength was partially balanced by the superior activity of the Suabian.  In the mean time, numbers of Rodolph’s knights had now arrived, and the Duke Godfrey was compelled to retreat.  Frederick of Hohenstaufen lingered until almost surrounded, and then retired slowly before his antagonist, hoping to obtain some advantage from the pursuer’s impetuosity.

But the Suabian was as cautious and dangerous as ever.

“Hold, Sir Knight!” said Frederick, suddenly sinking his sword and lowering his visor.  “I beg your name.”

“I am called Gilbert de Hers,” replied the youth, imitating his example.