mayest deal with him, and be none the sorer
when thou liest down to-night. To be short, this is it: when thou hast
got a stroke in upon him, and he falters, then give him no time, but fly
at him in thy wild-cat manner and show what-like thews thou hast under
thy smooth skin; now thine helm, lad. So art thou dight; and something
tells me thou shalt do it off in victory."

CHAPTER XXXI. THE BATTLE ON THE HOLM.

So when Christopher was armed, Jack turned about speedily, and so gat
him back through the ford and stood there on the bank with the nine
other folk of the Tofts. And by this time was Gandolf of Brimside armed
also, and Oliver Marson, who had done his helm on him, was gone to his
side of the river.

Drew the huge man-at-arms then toward Christopher, but his sword was yet
in the sheath: Christopher set his point to the earth and abode him; and
the Baron spake: "Lad, thou art fair and bold both, as I can see it, and
Jack of the Tofts is so much an old foe of mine that he is well-nigh a
friend: so what sayest thou? If thou wilt yield thee straightway, I will
have both thine head and the outlaw's with me to King Rolf, but yet on
your shoulders and ye two alive. Haps will go as haps will; and it
maybe that ye shall both live for another battle, and grow wiser, and
mayhappen abide in the wood with the reiver's men. Hah? What sayest
thou?"

Christopher laughed and said: "Wouldst thou pardon one who is not yet
doomed, Baron? And yet thy word is pleasant to us; for we see that if we
win thee, thou shalt be good liegeman of us. Now, Baron, sword in fist!"

Gandolf drew his sword, muttering: "Ah, hah! he is lordly and kingly
enough, yet may this learn him a lesson." Indeed the blade was huge and
brown and ancient, and sword and man had looked a very terror save to
one great-hearted.

But Christopher said: "What sayest thou now, Baron, shall we cast down
our shields to earth? For why should we chop into wood and leather?"

The Baron cast down his shield, and said: "Bold are thy words, lad; if
thy deeds go with them, it may be better for thee than for me. Now keep
thee."

And therewith he leapt forward and swept his huge sword around; but
Christopher swerved speedily and enough, so that the blade touched him
not, and the huge man had over-reached himself, and ere he had his sword
well under sway again, Christopher had smitten him so sharply on the
shoulder that the mails were sundered & the blood ran; and with