is ominous
and fearful. I think that some awesome tempest must be about to burst.
Also it seems to me that Cattrina has no stomach for this fray, else he
would not raise so many points of martial law and custom."

Then wiping his brow with a silken handkerchief he returned to deliver
the message.

Now Hugh and Dick, watching, saw that Cattrina and those who advised him
could find no further loophole for argument. They saw, moreover, that
the Doge grew angry, for he rose in his seat, throwing off his velvet
robe of office, of which it appeared that he could no longer bear the
weight, and spoke in a hard voice to Cattrina and his squires. Next,
once more the titles of the combatants were read, and their cause of
combat, and while this went on Hugh bade Dick bind about his right arm
a certain red ribbon that Eve had given him, saying that he wished to
fight wearing his lady's favour.

Dick obeyed, muttering that he thought such humours foolish and that a
knight might as well wear a woman's petticoat as her ribbon. By now, so
dim had the light grown, he could scarce see to tie the knot.

Indeed, the weather was very strange.

From the dark, lowering sky above a palpable blackness sank downward
as though the clouds themselves were falling of their own weight, while
from the sea great rolls of vapour came sweeping in like waves. Also
this sea itself had found a voice, for, although it was so calm, it
moaned like a world in pain. The great multitude began to murmur, and
their faces, lifted upward toward the sky, grew ghastly white. Fear,
they knew not of what, had got hold of them. A voice cried shrilly:

"Let them fight and have done. We would get home ere the tempest
bursts."

The first trumpet blew and the horses of the knights, which whinnied
uneasily, were led to their stations. The second trumpet blew and the
knights laid their lances in rest. Then ere the third trumpet could
sound, suddenly the darkness of midnight swallowed all the scene.

Dick groped his way to Hugh's side. "Bide where you are," he said, "the
end of the world is here; let us meet it like men and together."

"Ay," answered Hugh, and his voice rang hollow through his closed visor,
"without doubt it is the end of the world, and Murgh, the Minister, has
been sent to open the doors of heaven and hell. God have mercy on us
all!"

So they stayed there, hearkening to the groans and prayers of the
terrified multitude about them, Dick holding the br