when the lord Cattrina fights his master," and advancing
toward Grey Dick he made as though he would pull his nose.

"What is it he wants?" asked Grey Dick, staring up at the great fellow
with a look in his eyes that caused Ambrosio to cease flourishing his
fists.

The challenge was translated to him, and its reason. "Oh," said Dick,
"tell him I am much obliged and that I will fight him with the bow or
with the axe and dagger, or with all three. Then we will see whether he
beats me to a jelly, or whether I cut him into collops, who, as I think,
needs shortening."

Now the Captain Ambrosio consulted with his friends, who with much
earnestness prayed him have nothing to do with arrows. They pointed
out that there his bulk would put him at a disadvantage, especially in
dealing with an English archer who had an eye like a snake and a face
like that of death itself.

In short, one and all they recommended the battle-axe and the dagger as
his most appropriate weapons--since his adversary refused swords. The
battle-axe with which to knock him down, as he could easily do, being so
strong, and the dagger with which to finish him.

When this was explained to Grey Dick he assented to the proposal with
a kind of unholy joy that was almost alarming to those who saw it.
Moreover, as neither of them had gauntlets to throw down or pick up, he
stretched out his hand to seal the bargain, which, incautiously enough,
the huge, half-breed Swiss accepted.

Dick's grasp, indeed, was so firm and long that presently the giant was
observed first to move uneasily, secondly to begin to dance and thirdly
to shout out with pain.

"What is the matter?" asked his friends.

"The matter is," he groaned, as Dick let go, "that this son of Satan
has a blacksmith's vise in place of a hand," and he showed his great
fingers, from beneath the nails of which the blood was oozing.

His Venetian companions of the Guard looked at them, then they looked at
Grey Dick and gave him a wide berth. Also Ambrosio said something about
having offered to fight a man and not a fiend. But it was too late to
retract, for the Doge, taking, as was natural, no share in this small
matter, had already left his throne.

Then, escorted by Sir Geoffrey and the city Guards, Hugh and Grey Dick
passed through that splendid company away home to dinner, Dick carrying
his bow-case in one hand and the sack of armour which de Noyon had not
thought fit to claim in the other.

In