A tall figure came forcing through the crowd, his face a little paler
than its wont, and a formidable knob-kerry in his hand.

"I'm goin'!" said David.

"But yo're not," answered burly Sam'l, gripping the boy from behind with
arms like the roots of an oak. "Your time'll coom soon enough by the
look on yo' wi' niver no hurry."

And the sense of the Dalesmen was with the big man; for, as old Rob
Saunderson said:

"I reck'n he'd liefer claw on to your throat, lad, nor ony o' oors."

As there was no one forthcoming to claim the honor of the lead, Tammas
came forward with cunning counsel.

"Tell yo' what, lads, we'd best let 'em as don't know nowt at all aboot
him go first. And onst they're on, mind, we winna let 'em off; but keep
a-shovin' and a-bovin 'on 'em forra'd. _Then_ us'll foller."

By this time there was a little naked space of green round the
bridge-head, like a fairy circle, into which the uninitiated might not
penetrate. Round this the mob hedged: the Dalesmen in front, striving
knavishly back and bawling to those behind to leggo that shovin'; and
these latter urging valorously forward, yelling jeers and contumely at
the front rank. "Come on! 'O's afraid? Lerrus through to 'em, then,
ye Royal Stan'-backs!"--for well they knew the impossibility of their
demand.

And as they wedged and jostled thus, there stole out from their midst as
gallant a champion as ever trod the grass. He trotted out into the
ring, the observed of all, and paused to gaze at the gaunt figure on the
bridge. The sun lit the sprinkling of snow on the dome of his head; one
forepaw was off the ground; and he stood there, royally alert, scanning
his antagonist.

"Th' Owd Un!" went up in a roar fit to split the air as the hero of the
day was recognized. And the Dalesmen gave a pace forward spontaneously
as the gray knight-errant stole across the green.

"Oor Bob'll fetch him!" they roared, their blood leaping to fever heat,
and gripped their sticks, determined in stern reality to follow now.

The gray champion trotted up on to the bridge, and paused again, the
long hair about his neck rising like a ruff, and a strange glint in his
eyes; and the holder of the bridge never moved. Red and Gray stood thus,
face to face: the one gay yet resolute, the other motionless, his great
head slowly sinking between his forelegs, seemingly petrified.

There was no shouting now: it was time for deeds, not words. Only, above
the stillness, came a s