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For the third time the Earl swung the blade flashing； and then it fell； straight and true； upon the defenceless body； just below the left arm； biting deep through the armor plates。 For an instant the blade stuck fast； and that instant was Myles's salvation。 Under the agony of the blow he gave a muffled cry； and almost instinctively grasped the shaft of the weapon with both hands。 Had the Earl let go his end of the weapon； he would have won the battle at his leisure and most easily； as it was； he struggled violently to wrench the gisarm away from Myles。 In that short； fierce struggle Myles was dragged to his knees； and then； still holding the weapon with one hand； he clutched the trappings of the Earl's horse with the other。 The next moment he was upon his feet。 The other struggled to thrust him away； but Myles； letting go the gisarm； which he held with his left hand； clutched him tightly by the sword…belt in the intense； vise…like grip of despair。 In vain the Earl strove to beat him loose with the shaft of the gisarm； in vain he spurred and reared his horse to shake him off； Myles held him tight； in spite of all his struggles。
He felt neither the streaming blood nor the throbbing agony of his wounds； every faculty of soul； mind； body； every power of life； was centered in one intense； burning effort。 He neither felt； thought； nor reasoned； but clutching； with the blindness of instinct； the heavy； spiked； iron… headed mace that hung at the Earl's saddle…bow； he gave it one tremendous wrench that snapped the plaited leathern thongs that held it as though they were skeins of thread。 Then； grinding his teeth as with a spasm； he struck as he had never struck beforeonce； twice； thrice full upon the front of the helmet。 Crash！ crash！ And then； even as the Earl toppled sidelong； crash！ And the iron plates split and crackled under the third blow。 Myles had one flashing glimpse of an awful face； and then the saddle was empty。
Then； as he held tight to the horse； panting； dizzy； sick to death； he felt the hot blood gushing from his side； filling his body armor； and staining the ground upon which he stood。 Still he held tightly to the saddle…bow of the fallen man's horse until； through his glimmering sight； he saw the Marshal； the Lieutenant； and the attendants gather around him。 He heard the Marshal ask him； in a voice that sounded faint and distant； if he was dangerously wounded。 He did not answer； and one of the attendants； leaping from his horse； opened the umbril of his helmet； disclosing the dull； hollow eyes； the ashy； colorless lips； and the waxy forehead； upon which stood great beads of sweat。
〃Water！ water！〃 he cried； hoarsely； 〃give me to drink！〃 Then； quitting his hold upon the horse； he started blindly across the lists towards the gate of the barrier。 A shadow that chilled his heart seemed to fall upon him。 〃It is death；〃 he muttered； then he stopped； then swayed for an instant； and then toppled headlong； crashing as he fell。
CONCLUSION
But Myles was not dead。 Those who had seen his face when the umbril of the helmet was raised； and then saw him fall as he tottered across the lists； had at first thought so。 But his faintness was more from loss of blood and the sudden unstringing of nerve and sense from the intense furious strain of the last few moments of battle than from the vital nature of the wound。 Indeed； after Myles had been carried out of the lists and laid upon the ground in the shade between the barriers； Master Thomas； the Prince's barber…surgeon； having examined the wounds； declared that he might be even carried on a covered litter to Scotland Yard without serious danger。 The Prince was extremely desirous of having him under his care； and so the venture was tried。 Myles was carried to Scotland Yard； and perhaps was none the worse therefore。 The Prince； the Earl of Mackworth； and two or three others stood silently watching as the worthy shaver and leecher； assisted by his apprentice and Gascoyne； washed and bathed the great gaping wound in the side； and bound it with linen bandages。 Myles lay with closed eyelids； still； pallid； weak as a little child。 Presently he opened his eyes and turned them； dull and languid； to the Prince。
〃What hath happed my father； my Lord？〃 said he； in a faint； whispering voice。
〃Thou hath saved his life and honor； Myles；〃 the Prince answered。 〃He is here now； and thy mother hath been sent for； and cometh anon with the priest who was with them this morn。〃
Myles dropped his eyelids again； his lips moved； but he made no sound； and then two bright tears trickled across his white cheek。
〃He maketh a woman of me；〃 the Prince muttered through his teeth； and then； swinging on his heel； he stood for a long time looking out of the window into the garden beneath。
〃May I see my father？〃 said Myles； presently； without opening his eyes。
The Prince turned around and looked inquiringly at the surgeon。
The good man shook his head。 〃Not to…day；〃 said he； 〃haply to…morrow he may see him and his mother。 The bleeding is but new stanched； and such matters as seeing his father and mother may make the heart to swell； and so maybe the wound burst afresh and he die。 An he would hope to live； he must rest quiet until to…morrow day。〃
But though Myles's wound was not mortal； it was very serious。 The fever which followed lingered longer than commonperhaps because of the hot weatherand the days stretched to weeks； and the weeks to months； and still he lay there； nursed by his mother and Gascoyne and Prior Edward； and now and again by Sir James Lee。
One day； a little before the good priest returned to Saint Mary's Priory； as he sat by Myles's bedside； his hands folded； and his sight turned inward； the young man suddenly said； 〃Tell me； holy father； is it always wrong for man to slay man？〃
The good priest sat silent for so long a time that Myles began to think he had not heard the question。 But by…and…by he answered； almost with a sigh； 〃It is a hard question； my son； but I must in truth say； meseems it is not always wrong。〃
〃Sir；〃 said Myles； 〃I have been in battle when men were slain； but never did I think thereon as I have upon this matter。 Did I sin in so slaying my father's enemy？〃
〃Nay；〃 said Prior Edward； quietly； 〃thou didst not sin。 It was for others thou didst fight； my son； and for others it is pardonable to do battle。 Had it been thine own quarrel； it might haply have been more hard to have answered thee。〃
Who can gainsay； even in these days of light； the truth of this that the good priest said to the sick lad so far away in the past？
One day the Earl of Mackworth came to visit Myles。 At that time the young knight was mending； and was sitting propped up with pillows； and was wrapped in Sir James Lee's cloak； for the day was chilly。 After a little time of talk； a pause of silence fell。
〃My Lord；〃 said Myles； suddenly； 〃dost thou remember one part of a matter we spoke of when I first came from France？〃
The Earl made no pretence of ignorance。 〃I remember；〃 said he； quietly； looking straight into the young man's thin white face。
〃And have I yet won the right to ask for the Lady Alice de Mowbray to wife？〃 said Myles； the red rising faintly t