第25章

Butalthoughthelistsrangwiththeapplausesofhisdexterity，itwasevidentthathemustatlastbeoverpowered；andthenoblesaroundPrinceJohnimploredhimwithonevoicetothrowdownhiswarder，andtosavesobraveaknightfromthedisgraceofbeingovercomebyodds。

``NotI，bythelightofHeaven！’’answeredPrinceJohn；``thissamespringal，whoconcealshisname，anddespisesourprofferedhospitality，hathalreadygainedoneprize，andmaynowaffordtoletothershavetheirturn。’’Ashespokethus，anunexpectedincidentchangedthefortuneoftheday。

TherewasamongtheranksoftheDisinheritedKnightachampioninblackarmour，mountedonablackhorse，largeofsize，tall，andtoallappearancepowerfulandstrong，liketheriderbywhomhewasmounted，Thisknight，whoboreonhisshieldnodeviceofanykind，hadhithertoevincedverylittleinterestintheeventofthefight，beatingoffwithseemingcasethosecombatantswhoattackedhim，butneitherpursuinghisadvantages，norhimselfassailinganyone。Inshort，hehadhithertoactedthepartratherofaspectatorthanofapartyinthetournament，acircumstancewhichprocuredhimamongthespectatorsthenameof_LeNoirFaineant_，ortheBlackSluggard。

Atoncethisknightseemedtothrowasidehisapathy，whenhediscoveredtheleaderofhispartysohardbestead；for，settingspurstohishorse，whichwasquitefresh，hecametohisassistancelikeathunderbolt，exclaiming，inavoicelikeatrumpet-call，``_Desdichado_，totherescue！’’Itwashightime；for，whiletheDisinheritedKnightwaspressingupontheTemplar，Front-de-Bufhadgotnightohimwithhisupliftedsword；buteretheblowcoulddescend，theSableKnightdealtastrokeonhishead，which，glancingfromthepolishedhelmet，lightedwithviolencescarcelyabatedonthe_chamfron_ofthesteed，andFront-de-Bufrolledontheground，bothhorseandmanequallystunnedbythefuryoftheblow。_LeNoirFaineant_thenturnedhishorseuponAthelstaneofConingsburgh；

andhisownswordhavingbeenbrokeninhisencounterwithFront-de-Buf，hewrenchedfromthehandofthebulkySaxonthebattle-axewhichhewielded，and，likeonefamiliarwiththeuseoftheweapon，bestowedhimsuchablowuponthecrest，thatAthelstanealsolaysenselessonthefield。Havingachievedthisdoublefeat，forwhichhewasthemorehighlyapplaudedthatitwastotallyunexpectedfromhim，theknightseemedtoresumethesluggishnessofhischaracter，returningcalmlytothenorthernextremityofthelists，leavinghisleadertocopeashebestcouldwithBriandeBois-Guilbert。

Thiswasnolongermatterofsomuchdifficultyasformerly。TheTemplarshorsehadbledmuch，andgavewayundertheshockoftheDisinheritedKnight’scharge。BriandeBois-Guilbertrolledonthefield，encumberedwiththestirrup，fromwhichhewasunabletodrawhisfoot。Hisantagonistsprungfromhorseback，wavedhisfatalswordovertheheadofhisadversary，andcommandedhimtoyieldhimself；whenPrinceJohn，moremovedbytheTemplarsdangeroussituationthanhehadbeenbythatofhisrival，savedhimthemortificationofconfessinghimselfvanquished，bycastingdownhiswarder，andputtinganendtotheconflict。

Itwas，indeed，onlytherelicsandembersofthefightwhichcontinuedt