第23章

Thetwochampionsbeingalikearmedwithquarter-staves，steppedforwardintothecentreoftheopenspace，inordertohavethefullbenefitofthemoonlight；thethievesinthemeantimelaughing，andcryingtotheircomrade，``Miller！bewarethytoll-dish。’’TheMiller，ontheotherhand，holdinghisquarter-staffbythemiddle，andmakingitflourishroundhisheadafterthefashionwhichtheFrenchcall_fairelemoulinet_，exclaimedboastfully，``Comeon，churl，anthoudarest：thoushaltfeelthestrengthofamiller’sthumb！’’

``Ifthoubestamiller，’’answeredGurth，undauntedly，makinghisweaponplayaroundhisheadwithequaldexterity，``thouartdoublyathief，andI，asatrueman，bidtheedefiance。’’

Sosaying，thetwochampionsclosedtogether，andforafewminutestheydisplayedgreatequalityinstrength，courage，andskill，interceptingandreturningtheblowsoftheiradversarywiththemostrapiddexterity，while，fromthecontinuedclatteroftheirweapons，apersonatadistancemighthavesupposedthattherewereatleastsixpersonsengagedoneachside。Lessobstinate，andevenlessdangerouscombats，havebeendescribedingoodheroicverse；butthatofGurthandtheMillermustremainunsung，forwantofasacredpoettodojusticetoitseventfulprogress。Yet，thoughquarter-staffplaybeoutofdate，whatwecaninprosewewilldofortheseboldchampions。

Longtheyfoughtequally，untiltheMillerbegantolosetemperatfindinghimselfsostoutlyopposed，andathearingthelaughterofhiscompanions，who，asusualinsuchcases，enjoyedhisvexation。

Thiswasnotastateofmindfavourabletothenoblegameofquarter-staff，inwhich，asinordinarycudgel-playing，theutmostcoolnessisrequisite；

anditgaveGurth，whosetemperwassteady，thoughsurly，theopportunityofacquiringadecidedadvantage，inavailinghimselfofwhichhedisplayedgreatmastery。

TheMillerpressedfuriouslyforward，dealingblowswitheitherendofhisweaponalternately，andstrivingtocometohalf-staffdistance，whileGurthdefendedhimselfagainsttheattack，keepinghishandsaboutayardasunder，andcoveringhimselfbyshiftinghisweaponwithgreatcelerity，soastoprotecthisheadandbody。Thusdidhemaintainthedefensive，makinghiseye，foot，andhandkeeptruetime，until，observinghisantagonisttolosewind，hedartedthestaffathisfacewithhislefthand；and，astheMillerendeavouredtoparrythethrust，heslidhisrighthanddowntohisleft，andwiththefullswingoftheweaponstruckhisopponentontheleftsideofthehead，whoinstantlymeasuredhislengthuponthegreensward。

``Wellandyeomanlydone！’’shoutedtherobbers；

``fairplayandOldEnglandforever！TheSaxonhathsavedbothhispurseandhishide，andtheMillerhasmethismatch。’’

``Thoumaystgothyways，myfriend，’’saidtheCaptain，addressingGurth，inspecialconfirmationofthegeneralvoice，``andIwillcausetwoofmycomradestoguidetheebythebestwaytothymaster’spavilion，andtoguardtheefromnight-walkersthatmighthavelesstenderconsciencesthanours；forthereismanyoneofthemupontheambleinsuchanightasthis。Takeheed，however，’’

headdedsternly；``rememberthouhastrefusedtotellthyname——asknotafterours，norendeavourtodiscoverwhoorwhatweare；for，ifthoumakestsuchanattempt，thouwiltcomebyworsefortunethanhasyetbefallenthee。’’

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