bird. 'T is long since I saw a main"--

"Ay, we'll fight it out, Lister, and see which is the better man in the
matter you wot of." And Dotey, who was furiously jealous lest his fellow
retainer should have made more progress in the regard of Constance
Hopkins than himself, nodded meaningly toward him, while Billington
watched both with Mephistophilean glee.

"Agreed," replied Lister more coolly. "Although thou knowest private
quarrels are forbidden by the Captain."

"Hah! Thou 'rt afraid of our peppery little Captain!" cried Billington.
"Some day thou 'lt see me take him between thumb and finger and crack
him like a flea if he mells too much with me."

"I heard thee flout at his command t' other day, and I heard him tell
thee the next time thou didst so let loose thy tongue, he'd take order
with thee," exclaimed Lister hotly, and Billington snapping his fingers
contemptuously retorted,--

"'T is no use, Dotey. Lister's afraid of thee and will not fight. 'T is
a good boy, but not over-brave."

"Stay you here, you two, till I can go and come, and we will see who is
the coward!" retorted Lister furiously, and before either could reply he
sped away in the direction of the village.

"'T is like a bull-fight," cried Billington with a coarse laugh. "The
creature is hard to wake, but when he hath darts enough quivering in his
hide he rouses up and showeth rare sport. Now let us find a fair, smooth
field for our sword play. 'T is not so easy in this wild land."

"I know not why our captain should forbid the duello; 't is ever the way
of gentles to settle their disputes at the point of the sword," said
Dotey musingly.

"Ay, and in this place we all are gentles, or all simples, I know not
which," added Billington. "Certes, one man should here count as good as
another, and 't is often in my mind to say so, and to cry, Down with
governors, and captains, and elders"--

"Nay, nay, such talk smacks too strong of treason to suit my ear,"
exclaimed Dotey, who was, after all, an honest, well-meaning young
fellow, a little carried away just now by jealousy and by the
intoxicating air of liberty and freedom, but by no means to the extent
of joining or desiring a revolt against the appointed powers of Church
or State.

"Well, here is Lister, and with not only swords but daggers if I can see
aright. Ay, that's a good lad, that's a brave lad, Lister! There's no
craven in thy skin, is there, and I shrewdly nip mine own tongue for