al the
Baron staggered with the mere weight of the stroke. Then Christopher
saw his time, and leapt aloft and dealt such a stroke on the side of his
head, that the Baron tottered yet more; but now was he taught by those
two terrible strokes, and he gathered all his heart to him, and all the
might of his thews, and leapt aback and mastered his sword, and came on
fierce but wary, shouting out for Brimside and the King.

Christopher cried never a cry, but swung his sword well within his
sway, and the stroke came on Gandolf's fore-arm and brake the mails and
wounded him, and then as the Baron rushed forward, the wary lad gat his
blade under his foeman's nigh the hilts, and he gave it a wise twist and
forth flew the ancient iron away from its master.

Gandolf seemed to heed not that he was swordless, but gave out a great
roar and rushed at Christopher to close with him, and the well-knit
lad gave back before him and turned from side to side, and kept the
sword-point before Gandolf's eyes ever, till suddenly, as the Baron was
running his fiercest, he made a mighty sweep at his right leg, since
he had no more to fear his sword, and the edge fell so strong and true,
that but for the byrny-hose he had smitten the limb asunder, and even
as it was it made him a grievous wound, so that the Lord of Brimside fell
clattering to the earth, and Christopher bestrode him and cried: "How
sayest thou, champion, is it enough?"

"Yea, enough, and maybe more," said the Baron. "Wilt thou smite off mine
head? Or what wilt thou?"

Said Christopher: "Here hath been enough smiting, meseemeth, save thy
lads and ours have a mind to buckle to; and lo thou! men are running
down from the bents towards us from both sides, yet not in any warlike
manner as yet. Now, Baron, here cometh thy grim squire that I heard
called Oliver, and if thou wilt keep the troth, thou shalt bid him order
thy men so that they fall not upon us till the battle be duly pitched.
Then shalt thou be borne home, since thou canst not go, with no
hindrance from us."

Now was Oliver come indeed, and the other nine with him, and on the
other side was come Jack of the Tofts and four others.

Then spake the Baron of Brimside: "I may do better than thou biddest me;
for now I verily trow herein, that thou art the son of Christopher the
Old; so valiant as thou art, and so sad a smiter, and withal that
thou fearest not to let thy foeman live. So hearken all ye, and thou
specially, Olive