Now he raised himself on his arm and claimed the victory
Two huge stones, hurled by Alan the Armorer, came down on the heads of the luckless churls in the moat
Dame Franklin and the old soldier were frozen in their places
The force of my blow drove him backward, but my weapon pierced him not
We had gone scarce half a mile when ’twas plainly to be seen that my little mare was no match for the long-limbed steeds of the Carletons
While I spoke my mother had grown pale as death
Then Elbert did come to the mark and, with a merry grin, sent five arrows toward the target
We made a procession through the field, all the men and maidens shouting and dancing and making a most merry and heartening din
He gave no inch of ground save to leap from side to side in avoiding my downward strokes
In a twinkling armed and mounted men were all about us
Old Marvin had his cross-bow ready drawn, and he shot young Montalvan through the face at the very first onset
Hard we rode, indeed, and with little mercy on our mounts
The water at the ford was filled with mounted men and bullock carts, laden with spoil and making their difficult way through the swift-flowing current
The leader had his great sword thrust aside by Cedric’s bow, then was seized about the waist and hurled to the rocks below
Both were red of face with hurry, and their horses were well lathered and breathing hard
Then with loud menaces I drove him to the wall where I made him stand with hands above his head
Sir Cedric rose to his feet and for a moment looked from one to the other of our company
With a mighty shout, we rode down upon the bridge, trusting all to the darkness and the fury of our attack
