. Jehan ringed him in circles of light, and the famous
downward stroke was expended on vacant air. He played with him till
he breathed heavily like a cow, and then by a sleight of hand sent his
sword spinning among the oak mast. The young giant stood sulkily before
him, unarmed, deeply shamed, waiting on his death, but with no fear in
his eyes.

Jehan tossed his own blade to the ground, and stripped off his hauberk.
"We have fought with weapons," he said, "now we will fight in the
ancient way."

There followed a very different contest. Aelward lost his shamefastness
and his slow blood fired as flesh met flesh and sinew strained against
sinew. His great arms crushed the Frenchman till the ribs cracked, but
always the other slipped through and evaded the fatal hug. And as the
struggle continued Aelward's heart warmed to his enemy. When their
swords crossed he had hated him like death; now he seemed to be striving
with a kinsman.

Suddenly, when victory looked very near, he found the earth moving from
beneath him, and a mountain descended on his skull. When he blinked
himself into consciousness again, Jehan was laving his head from a pool
in an oak-root.

"I will teach you that throw some day, friend," he was saying. "Had I
not known the trick of it, you had mauled me sadly. I had liefer grapple
with a bear."

Aelward moistened his lips. "You have beat me fairly, armed and
weaponless," he said, and his voice had no anger in it.

"Talk not of beating between neighbours," was the answer. "We have
played together and I have had the luck of it. It will be your turn to
break my head to-morrow."

"Head matters little," grumbled Aelward. "Mine has stood harder dints.
But you have broken my leg, and that means a month of housekeeping."

Jehan made splints of ash for the leg, and set him upon his horse, and
in this wise they came to the bridge of Galland fen. On the far side of
the water stood the Lady Hilda. He halted and waited on her bidding.
She gazed speechless at the horse whereon sat her brother with a clouted
scalp.

"What ails you, Frenchman?" said Aelward. "It is but a half-grown girl
of my father's begetting."

"I have vowed not to pass that bridge till yonder lady bids me."

"Then for the pity of Christ bid him, sister. He and I are warm with
play and yearn for a flagon."

In this manner did Jehan first enter the house of Galland, whence in the
next cowslip-time he carried a bride to Highstead.

The mo