hadst best stand back, Blunt," said he, "else thou mayst be hurt.
We will not have ye bang Falworth again as ye once did, so stand thou
back!"

Blunt stopped short and looked upon the lads standing behind Myles, some
of them with faces a trifle pale perhaps, but all grim and determined
looking enough. Then he turned upon his heel suddenly, and walked back
to the far end of the dormitory, where the bachelors were presently
clustered together. A few words passed between them, and then the
thirteen began at once arming themselves, some with wooden clogs,
and some with the knives which they had so openly concealed the
night before. At the sign of imminent battle, all those not actively
interested scuttled away to right and left, climbing up on the benches
and cots, and leaving a free field to the combatants. The next moment
would have brought bloodshed.

Now Myles, thanks to the training of the Crosbey-Dale smith, felt
tolerably sure that in a wrestling bout he was a match--perhaps more
than a match--for any one of the body of squires, and he had determined,
if possible, to bring the battle to a single-handed encounter upon that
footing. Accordingly he suddenly stepped forward before the others.

"Look'ee, fellow," he called to Blunt, "thou art he who struck me whilst
I was down some while since. Wilt thou let this quarrel stand between
thee and me, and meet me man to man without weapon? See, I throw me
down mine own, and will meet thee with bare hands." And as he spoke, he
tossed the clog he held in his hand back upon the cot.

"So be it," said Blunt, with great readiness, tossing down a similar
weapon which he himself held.

"Do not go, Myles," cried Gascoyne, "he is a villain and a traitor, and
would betray thee to thy death. I saw him when he first gat from bed
hide a knife in his doublet."

"Thou liest!" said Blunt. "I swear, by my faith, I be barehanded as ye
see me! Thy friend accuses me, Myles Falworth, because he knoweth thou
art afraid of me."

"There thou liest most vilely!" exclaimed Myles. "Swear that thou hast
no knife, and I will meet thee."

"Hast thou not heard me say that I have no knife?" said Blunt. "What
more wouldst thou have?"

"Then I will meet thee halfway," said Myles.

Gascoyne caught him by the sleeve, and would have withheld him, assuring
him that he had seen the bachelor conceal a knife. But Myles, hot for
the fight, broke away from his friend without listening to him.

As the two