ile." So he sat silent a little; then he said: "Thou seest, Jack
of the Tofts, that now thou hast thrust the torch into the tow; if I go
back to King Rolf without the heads of you twain, I am like to pay for
it with mine own. Therefore hearken. If we buckle together in fight
presently, it is most like that I shall come to my above, but thou art
so wily and stout that it is not unlike that thou, and perchance this
luckless youngling, may slip through my fingers into the wood; and then
it will avail me little with the King that I have slain a few score
nameless wolf-heads. So, look you! here is a fair field hazelled by God;
let us two use it to-day, and fight to the death here; and then if thou
win me, smite off my head, and let my men fight it out afterwards, as
best they may without me, and 'tis like they will be beaten then. But if
I win thee, then I win this youngling withal, and bear back both heads
to my Lord King, after I have scattered thy wolf-heads and slain as many
as I will; which shall surely befall, if thou be slain first."

Then cried out Jack of the Tofts: "Hail to thy word, stout-heart! this
is well offered, and I take it for myself and my Lord King here." And
all that stood by and heard gave a glad sound with their voices, and
their armour rattled and rang as man turned to man to praise their
captains.

But now spake Christopher: "Lord of Brimside, it is nought wondrous
though thou set me aside as of no account, whereas thou deemest me no
king or king's kindred; but thou, Lord Earl, who wert once Jack of the
Tofts, I marvel at thee, that thou hast forgotten thy King so soon. Ye
twain shall now wot that this is my quarrel, and that none but I shall
take this battle upon him.

"Thou servant of Rolf, the traitor and murderer, hearken! I say that I
am King of Oakenrealm, and the very son of King Christopher the Old; and
that will I maintain with my body against every gainsayer. Thou Lord of
Brimside, wilt thou gainsay it? Then I say thou liest, and lo here, my
glove!" And he cast it down before the Lord.

Again was there good rumour, and that from either side of the
bystanders; but Jack of the Tofts stood up silent and stiff, and the
Baron of Brimside laughed, and said: "Well, swain, if thou art weary of
life, so let it be, as for me; but how sayest thou, Jack of the Tofts?
Art thou content to give thine head away in this fashion, whereas thou
wottest that I shall presently slay this king of thine?"

Sa