he asked for them again as he would his own
life. In the event of his death, however, David was to give them to Sir
Hugh, or if they both should die, to his own master, Sir Geoffrey. All
of these things David promised to do.

Next followed a long discussion as to whether the four of them were
to fight in pairs, Cattrina and Ambrosio against Hugh and Dick
simultaneously, or whether Ambrosio was to fight alone with Dick, and
Cattrina with Hugh. Upon Cattrina and Ambrosio being asked their wishes,
the former said that he desired to fight alone, as he feared lest the
English archer, if he overcame Ambrosio, should turn on him also, or
perhaps hamstring his horse.

Then the Englishmen were asked what they wished, and replied that they
did not care how it was arranged, being ready to fight either together
or separately, as the Doge might decree.

The end of it was that after long consultations with sundry experts in
such matters, the Most Illustrious decided that the Captains Ambrosio
and Richard the Archer should first engage on foot, and when that
business was settled the two knights should take their place in the
arena.

So the end of it was that more than half an hour after the combat should
have begun, Dick and the gigantic Ambrosio found themselves standing
face to face waiting for the signal to engage, the Swiss shouting
threats and defiance and Grey Dick grinning and watching him out of his
half-shut eyes.

At length it came in the shape of a single blast upon a trumpet. Now
seeing that Dick stood quite still, not even raising his axe, the Swiss
advanced and struck a mighty blow at him, which Dick avoided by stepping
aside. Recovering himself, again Ambrosio struck. This blow Dick caught
upon his shield, then, as though he were afraid, began to retreat,
slowly at first, but afterward faster till his walk broke into a run.

At this sight all that mighty audience set up a hooting. "Coward! Dog!
Pig of an Englishman!" they yelled; and the louder they yelled the more
quickly did Grey Dick run, till at last even Hugh grew puzzled wondering
what was in his mind and hoping that he would change it soon. So the
audience hooted, and Grey Dick ran and the giant Swiss lumbered along
after him, bellowing triumphantly and brandishing his battle-axe, which,
it was noted, never seemed to be quite long enough to reach his flying
foe.

When this had gone on for two or three minutes, Grey Dick stumbled and
fell. The Swiss, who