to
waylay the British Champion, in order to deprive him of his trophy and
of his life, intending to present himself before the fair Sabra, and to
boast that he had himself destroyed the dragon.

Passing through a narrow defile, Saint George beheld the twelve African
knights flourishing their swords, and prepared to intercept his
progress.

"Take charge of Bayard," quoth he to De Fistycuff; "I'll meet these
recreants sword in hand on foot." Thus speaking, he drew Ascalon from
the scabbard, and advanced towards his foes. From the narrowness of the
defile only three could engage in the fight at once. Sharply clashed
the steel. Loud rang their swords upon his polished armour; but Ascalon
soon found an entrance through their coats of mail, and one after the
other fell breathless to the ground. Three more then came on; but
standing on the bodies of the prostrate steeds, he with one stroke of
his falchion severed their heads from their bodies, which rolled over in
the ensanguined dust. With three equal downward strokes he cut in two,
from the crown to the saddle, the next three which advanced, while the
remainder turning to fly, he pierced them with Ascalon ignominiously
through the back.

Almidor had all the time stood on the summit of a mountain hard by to
witness the defeat of the British Champion; but when he saw that instead
he remained victor of the field, he hastened back to the city to
announce the death of the dragon by the sword of the strange Knight.
Pen might fail to do justice to the magnificent preparations made to do
honour to the brave Champion who had conquered the Green Dragon. As he
approached the city he was met by a sumptuous chariot of massive gold,
drawn by fifty milk-white steeds; the wheels were of the purest ebony,
and the covering was of silk embossed with gold. On either side rode a
hundred of the noblest peers of Bagabornabou, attired in crimson velvet,
and mounted on chargers of the same pure colour as those which drew the
chariot. Stepping into the chariot, while De Fistycuff led Bayard with
one hand, and carried aloft the dragon's head with the other, he entered
the city amid strains of delicious and martial music, and beneath
banners and embroidered tapestry and rich arras waving from every
window, from which looked down thousands of bright eyes to admire him.
But none were so bright as those of the beauteous Sabra, who welcomed
him in a rich pavilion prepared for his reception, whe