way, with a force that the Moor vainly endeavoured to resist:
Muza, therefore, suddenly released his bold; and, ere the Spaniard
had recovered his balance (which was lost by the success of his own
strength, put forth to the utmost), he dashed upon him the hoofs of his
black charger, and with a short but heavy mace, which he caught up from
the saddlebow, dealt Hernando so thundering a blow upon the helmet, that
the giant fell to the ground, stunned and senseless.

To dismount, to repossess himself of his shield, to resume his sabre, to
put one knee to the breast of his fallen foe, was the work of a moment;
and then had Don Hernando del Pulgar been sped, without priest or
surgeon, but that, alarmed by the peril of their most valiant comrade,
twenty knights spurred at once to the rescue, and the points of twenty
lances kept the Lion of Granada from his prey. Thither, with similar
speed, rushed the Moorish champions; and the fight became close and
deadly round the body of the still unconscious Christian. Not an instant
of leisure to unlace the helmet of Hernando, by removing which, alone,
the Moorish blade could find a mortal place, was permitted to Muza; and,
what with the spears and trampling hoofs around him, the situation of
the Paynim was more dangerous than that of the Christian. Meanwhile,
Hernando recovered his dizzy senses; and, made aware of his state,
watched his occasion, and suddenly shook off the knee of the Moor.
With another effort he was on his feet and the two champions stood
confronting each other, neither very eager to renew the combat. But
on foot, Muza, daring and rash as he was, could not but recognise his
disadvantage against the enormous strength and impenetrable armour of
the Christian. He drew back, whistled to his barb, that, piercing the
ranks of the horsemen, was by his side on the instant, remounted,
and was in the midst of the foe, almost ere the slower Spaniard was
conscious of his disappearance.

But Hernando was not delivered from his enemy. Clearing a space around
him, as three knights, mortally wounded, fell beneath his sabre, Muza
now drew from behind his shoulder his short Arabian bow, and shaft after
shaft came rattling upon the mail of the dismounted Christian with
so marvellous a celerity, that, encumbered as he was with his heavy
accoutrements, he was unable either to escape from the spot, or ward off
that arrowy rain; and felt that nothing but chance, or Our Lady, could
prevent t