y had seen, the multitude shouted for
the combat to proceed.

Once more Hugh laid his lance in rest, thinking that Cattrina was there,
although he could not see him.

Then the third trumpet rang out--in that silence it sounded like the
blast of doom--and Hugh spurred his horse forward a little way, but
halted, for he could perceive no foe advancing against him. He stared
about him, and at last in a rage threw his lance to a squire, and,
turning his horse, galloped to the tribune. There he pulled it to his
haunches and shouted out in a great voice:

"Where is Cattrina? Am I to be fooled, who appear here as the champion
of the King of England? Where is Cattrina? Produce Cattrina that I may
slay him or be slain, or, Chivalry of Venice, be forever shamed!"

The Doge rose, uttering swift commands, and heralds ran here and there.
Knights and captains searched the pavilions and every other place where
a mounted man might hide. But they never found Cattrina, and, returning
at length, confessed as much with bowed heads.

The Doge, maddened by this ignominy, seized the great gold chain upon
his beast and burst it in two.

"Cattrina has fled!" he shouted. "Or Satan himself has carried him away!
At the least let his name be erased from the Golden Book of Venice, and
until he prove himself innocent, let no noble of Venice stretch out
to him the hand of fellowship. Men of Venice, for you Cattrina and his
House are dead."

"Will none take up his cause and fight for him?" asked Hugh through
Sir Geoffrey, and presently, at the Doge's command, the challenge
was repeated thrice by the herald. But to it no answer came. Of this
afterward Hugh was glad, since it was Cattrina's life he sought, not
that of any other man. Then Hugh spoke again, saying:

"I claim, O Illustrious, that I be written down as victor in this combat
to the death, bloodless through no fault of mine."

"It shall be so written, noble Hugh de Cressi," said the Doge. "Let all
Venice take notice thereof."

As the words left his lips the solid earth began to heave and rock.

At the first heave Hugh leaped from his horse, which screamed aloud and
fled away, and gripped hold of Grey Dick. At the second, the multitude
broke out into wild cries, prayers and blasphemies, and rushed this way
and that. At the third, which came quite slowly and was the greatest of
them all, the long stand of timber bent its flags toward him as though
in salute, then, with a slow, gri