ne to struggle for
the first and second prizes.

The interest in the struggle had increased with each round, and wagers
were freely laid upon the result. According to custom the two champions
had laid aside their leathern shirts and had donned mail armour, for it
was considered that the crowning contest between the two picked young
swordsmen of the city would be a severe one, and greater protection to
the limbs was needed.

Before taking their places they were led up to the royal pavilion, where
they were closely inspected by the king and his nobles.

"You are sure that this man is still an apprentice?" the king asked
the Lord Mayor, who was seated next to him; "he has the appearance of a
man-at-arms, and a stout one too; the other is a likely stripling, and
is, as I have seen, marvellously dexterous with his sword, but he is but
a boy while the other is a grown man.

"He is an apprentice, my liege, although his time will be up in a few
days, while the other has yet three years to serve, but he works for
an armourer, and is famed through the city, boy as he is, for his skill
with weapons."

After a few words to each, exhorting them to do their best in the sight
of the queen and her ladies, the king dismissed them.

"I know the young one now!" the Prince of Wales said, clapping his hands
as the apprentices turned away to take their places. "My Lord Talbot, I
will wager a gold chain with you upon the smaller of the two."

"I will take your wager," the noble answered; "but I am by no means sure
that I shall win it, for I have watched your champion closely, and
the downright blows which he struck would seem to show that he has the
muscle and strength of a man though still but a boy."

The event justified the Prince of Wales's confidence; at the
commencement of the struggle Ralph Smith tried to beat down his opponent
by sheer strength as he had done his prior opponents, but to his
surprise he found that all his efforts could not break down his
opponent's guard. Walter indeed did not appear to take advantage of his
superior lightness and activity, but to prefer to prove that in strength
as well as skill he was equal to his antagonist. In the latter respect
there was no comparison, for as soon as the smith began to relax his
rain of blows Walter took the offensive and with a sweeping blow given
with all his strength broke down his opponent's guard and smote him with
such force upon his steel cap that, blunted as the s