l was the knight of most prowess.

Then there was fierce hurtling to and fro of knight against knight, and
lances splintered, horses reared, knights fell wounded or dead, and
were dragged away. And for long, among the ninety-nine knights that
there jousted, none of the crowds who looked on could see which were
they who were gaining the day.

From her window the countess watched with a sorrowing and dreading
heart; for Elined had not yet returned, and therefore the countess must
be the prize of one of these suitors who had pestered her, and none of
whom she cared for.

Then, when the dust of the jousting had a little cleared, and the
knights had withdrawn to the sides of the lists, to breathe and rest
awhile, it was seen that twelve remained of the ninety-nine.

The countess, looking from her window, knew them all from the devices
on their shields, and none of them were men she favoured. Some she knew
were evil men, yet, as knights, were powerful in jousting. And she
dreaded which of them should be the victor, to be her lord and master.

Then the knights hurtled together again, and as one after the other was
unhorsed by stronger opponents and went from the field, she went pale
with fear and anxiety.

At last there were but two, and these were Sir Dewin, whom she knew as
the Earl of Drood, and the other was a knight in blue armour, with a
shield on which was painted a hillock or mound. And she knew him to be
a man named Sir Daunt, or the Knight of the Mount, a man of fierce
temper, quarrelsome and cruel.

The countess could have swooned with terror, for she knew that now she
was doomed to an unhappy life, whichever of these knights prevailed.
For though the Earl of Drood was soft and gentle in speech and manner,
she feared that this but covered a wicked heart.

She could hardly bear to look as she heard these two, the last of all
the ninety-nine, crash together in the midst of the jousting-ground.
And she heard the cries of the onlookers.

'The blue knight's the better man! How he heaves with his sword! Ah,
the golden knight is down!'

And looking from her window the countess saw the earl was lying
wounded, and the Knight of the Mount stood over him. Then the earl
surrendered and was carried off the field.

The great shouts that saluted the victor made the countess turn faint
and sick with dread, so that she fell back among her handmaidens in a
swoon. But, quickly recovering, she stood up, resolved to meet he