triumph of the incognito knight was hailed as
certain. He had now only to meet the youngest; and, to the opinion of
all, the least renowned of the challengers. Young Don Antonio de Leyva,
however, by the martial and undaunted manner in which he came forward,
showed that he was in no ways intimidated by the repeated and
extraordinary good fortune of the doughty champion.

The trumpets sounded--the lances are couched--the horses started--the
silence is intense--when, with one fearful resounding clash, the
knights meet--the charm is broken, and all is converted into an uproar
of wonder and delight.--The champions, though so unequal in all
appearances, now proved to be fairly matched--both lances descended from
the air in splinters, and the tremendous shock which the combatants had
sustained, appeared to produce no other effect than to check their
steeds in their impetuous course. The knights soon recovered and
regained their stations.--Again the signal is heard--and again they
speed with the swiftness of the arrow--the lances break, and both the
horses recede with the violent shock.--Surprise and delight agitate the
bosom of the spectators.--Hope inspires the drooping spirits of the
_Mantenedor_ and those of the castle.--Disappointment and vexation rage
in the heart of the incognito knight. He made a movement of impatient
anger, as he grasped firmly the lance which was now presented to him,
and poised it as if to ascertain its consistency; then, making a circuit
with his steed, he appeared resolved to put a termination to the hopes
of his adversary in the present encounter.--With a desperate start he
rushed headlong against his opponent, who, aware of the furious attack
he was about to sustain, collected all his might to meet it with a
suitable resistance.--The incognito knight inclined himself more forward
on his horse, and turned his aim full at the breast of his antagonist,
while Don Antonio, who perceived his intention, resolved to direct his
lance towards his adversary's head, which, though a difficult
manoeuvre, would, if successful, insure the advantage.--The incognito
knight, however, broke the tendency of the blow by suddenly inclining
his head forward, while the anger that boiled within his bosom, so
powerfully seconded his efforts, that the gallant Don Antonio fell,
bearing, however, his adversary backwards on his seat, and carrying
away, on the point of his lance, the plumage that adorned his casque.

The vict