"Nay, that were a shame," muttered the other fellow; "and yet, when I

served in the band of stout old Gandelyn, we had no such scruples of

conscience. And this insolent peasant,--he too, I warrant me, is to be

dismissed scatheless?"

"Not if THOU canst scathe him," replied the Captain.--"Here, fellow,"

continued he, addressing Gurth, "canst thou use the staff, that thou

starts to it so readily?"

"I think," said Gurth, "thou shouldst be best able to reply to that

question."

"Nay, by my troth, thou gavest me a round knock," replied the Captain;

"do as much for this fellow, and thou shalt pass scot-free; and if thou

dost not--why, by my faith, as thou art such a sturdy knave, I think

I must pay thy ransom myself.--Take thy staff, Miller," he added, "and

keep thy head; and do you others let the fellow go, and give him a

staff--there is light enough to lay on load by."

The two champions being alike armed with quarter-staves, stepped forward

into the centre of the open space, in order to have the full benefit of

the moonlight; the thieves in the meantime laughing, and crying to their

comrade, "Miller! beware thy toll-dish." The Miller, on the other hand,

holding his quarter-staff by the middle, and making it flourish round

his head after the fashion which the French call "faire le moulinet",

exclaimed boastfully, "Come on, churl, an thou darest: thou shalt feel

the strength of a miller's thumb!"

"If thou be'st a miller," answered Gurth, undauntedly, making his weapon

play around his head with equal dexterity, "thou art doubly a thief, and

I, as a true man, bid thee defiance."

So saying, the two champions closed together, and for a few minutes they

displayed great equality in strength, courage, and skill, intercepting

and returning the blows of their adversary with the most rapid

dexterity, while, from the continued clatter of their weapons, a person

at a distance might have supposed that there were at least six persons

engaged on each side. Less obstinate, and even less dangerous combats,

have been described in good heroic verse; but that of Gurth and the

Miller must remain unsung, for want of a sacred poet to do justice to

its eventful progress. Yet, though quarter-staff play be out of date,

what we can in prose we will do for these bold champions.

Long they fought equally, until the Miller began to lose temper at

finding himself so stoutly opposed, and at hearing the laughter of his

companions, who, as usual in such cases, enjoyed his vexation. This was

not a state of mind favourable to the noble game of quarter-staff, in

which, as in ordinary cudgel-playing, the utmost coolness is requisite;

and it gave Gurth, whose temper was steady, though surly, the

opportunity of acquiring a decided advantage, in availing himself of

which he displayed great mastery.




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