e are no better in the world."

"It is but child's play, this poking game," said John. "I would fain
try my hand at it, for, by the black rood! I think that it might be
amended."

"What then would you do, John?" asked several.

"There are many things which might be done," said the forester
thoughtfully. "Methinks that I would begin by breaking my spear."

"So they all strive to do."

"Nay, but not upon another man's shield. I would break it over my own
knee."

"And what the better for that, old beef and bones?" asked Black Simon.

"So I would turn what is but a lady's bodkin of a weapon into a very
handsome club."

"And then, John?"

"Then I would take the other's spear into my arm or my leg, or where
it pleased him best to put it, and I would dash out his brains with my
club."

"By my ten finger-bones! old John," said Aylward, "I would give my
feather-bed to see you at a spear-running. This is a most courtly and
gentle sport which you have devised."

"So it seems to me," said John seriously. "Or, again, one might seize
the other round the middle, pluck him off his horse and bear him to the
pavilion, there to hold him to ransom."

"Good!" cried Simon, amid a roar of laughter from all the archers round.
"By Thomas of Kent I we shall make a camp-marshal of thee, and thou
shalt draw up rules for our jousting. But, John, who is it that you
would uphold in this knightly and pleasing fashion?"

"What mean you?"

"Why, John, so strong and strange a tilter must fight for the brightness
of his lady's eyes or the curve of her eyelash, even as Sir Nigel does
for the Lady Loring."

"I know not about that," said the big archer, scratching his head in
perplexity. "Since Mary hath played me false, I can scarce fight for
her."

"Yet any woman will serve."

"There is my mother then," said John. "She was at much pains at my
upbringing, and, by my soul! I will uphold the curve of her eyelashes,
for it tickleth my very heart-root to think of her. But who is here?"

"It is Sir William Beauchamp. He is a valiant man, but I fear that he is
scarce firm enough upon the saddle to bear the thrust of such a tilter
as this stranger promises to be."

Aylward's words were speedily justified, for even as he spoke the two
knights met in the centre of the lists. Beauchamp struck his opponent a
shrewd blow upon the helmet, but was met with so frightful a thrust that
he whirled out of his saddle and rolled over and over upon the