“So much the worse!” replied the youth, without checking his speed.

“He must overtake us!” continued Humbert; “he gains at every leap!”

It was true.  The horseman was almost on them.

“Fly not so fast, gentlemen!” he cried as he came up.

“I knew it was he,” muttered Gilbert, halting.

“You have given me some trouble to overtake you!” said Henry of Stramen, with a bitter sneer, as he wheeled his swift horse, which had darted ahead, and confronted them.

“Had I been well mounted,” answered Gilbert, “you should have had your trouble in vain!”

“I conjectured as much, from your determined flight,” returned Henry.

Gilbert was stung to the quick, but he constrained himself to reply: 

“With your permission, sir, we will ride on.”

“My permission can only be obtained in one way, and that way should already have been embraced by a Suabian noble.”

Saying this, the young knight leaped to the ground, and drew his sword.

“You will dismount, I trust!” he continued, as Gilbert sat steadily in his saddle.

“No!  Let me pass, I entreat you!” said Gilbert, putting his horse in motion.  But Henry of Stramen, with a sudden spring, caught the reins, and forced the animal well-nigh upon his haunches.

“I knew it!” cried Henry, with a bitter laugh.  “You took advantage of my absence to insult my sister, but I returned too soon for your chivalry.  Dismount!  The truce of God covers not to-day.  Dismount!  Add not cowardice to deceit!”

This was more than Gilbert could bear.  Quick as lightning he stood beside the challenger.  It was but the work of a moment to throw off his coarse cloak and draw his sword.  Having chosen his position, he awaited the assault of his adversary.  Humbert looked on in breathless interest, while the two young nobles fought in the moonlight.  For some minutes Gilbert maintained his ground, despite the furious efforts of his assailant.  There was a strong contrast between the desperate energy of Henry and the calm courage of Gilbert.  But at length the latter began to recede rapidly down a gentle slope.  His antagonist recklessly pursued.  The motive of Gilbert’s retreat soon became evident.  Henry’s foot slipped on the long grass, slimy from the recent rain, and he fell at full length upon the ground.  Before he could rise, Gilbert had mounted the far fleeter steed of his opponent.

“Return, coward! and see if chance will save you again!” shouted Henry, as he gained his feet.

“Your sister has saved you once, and she shall save you again!” answered Gilbert; and, without regarding the denunciations of the knight of Stramen, he called to Humbert, and resuming the road to Hers, was soon out of hearing of Henry’s threats.

CHAPTER VI

  No ceremony that to great ones ’longs,
  Not the king’s crown, nor the deputed sword,
  The marshal’s truncheon, nor the judge’s robe,
  Become them with one half so good a grace
  As mercy does.