e something beside the
honors," said Mell and he struck at the Red Champion's belt. Down on
the shingles fell the silver-studded belt and the Red Champion pushed
off in his boat.

When the Cook's son saw from his cave that the Red Champion had gone
he came down to the water's edge where Mell was lying with his face
and hands in the water to cool himself after the combat. The
silver-studded belt was lying beside Mell. The Cook's son took it up
without saying a word and he went off towards the Castle.

That night Mell the Hen-wife's son sat by himself in the supper room
of the King's Castle. He watched and watched the face of the Princess
Bright Brow. She looked more pale and troubled than on the night
before. And after the harpers had played the King called upon the
Cook's son to come up to the High Chair and tell how he had battled
with the Red Champion. He came up with the silver-studded belt in his
hand and he told a story of how he had beaten the Red Champion back
into the sea. And when the story was told the King bade Bright Brow go
over to him and kiss the Cook's son on his heavy gray cheek.

V

The next day when he stood before the Cook-house, Mell the Hen-wife's
son heard a greater rattling than before. The Cook's son struck the
pot-lids with the ladles more fiercely than before and he cried out in
a high voice "This is the last time that I shall ever stand amongst
the pots and the pans, the lids and the ladles, for I go to fight the
Red Champion for the last time, and after this I will sit beside the
King's Chair and the King's daughter, Princess Bright Brow, will sit
upon my knee."

He marched down to the sea-shore, his long sword trailing behind him.
He walked through the street with his head high, but when he drew near
the sea-shore his gait became less grand. His knees began to knock
together. He looked out to the sea and when he saw the boat that moved
of itself coming towards the shore he clambered into the cave and he
drew the bushes round to cover up the entrance.

The boat that moved of itself came to the strand. The Red Champion
sprang out on the shingles. He made his proclamation. Then up to him
came Mell the Hen-wife's son. "I will strive with you," said he, "as I
strove with you yesterday and the day before. And how shall we fight?
Shall it be with swords or by wrestling?" "By wrestling let it be
to-day," said the Red Champion.

They laid hands on each other and began to wrestle. And in t