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not for such an early opening as this。 〃By 'r Lady； Myles； thou art hungry
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for brawling；〃 said he。
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CHAPTER 13
After the first excitement of meeting； discussing； and deciding had
passed； Myles began to feel the weight of the load he had so boldly taken
upon himself。 He began to reckon what a serious thing it was for him to
stand as a single champion against the tyranny that had grown so strong
through years of custom。 Had he let himself do so； he might almost have
repented； but it was too late now for repentance。 He had laid his hand to
the plough； and he must drive the furrow。
Somehow the news of impending battle had leaked out among the rest
of the body of squires； and a buzz of suppressed excitement hummed
through the dormitory that evening。 The bachelors； to whom； no doubt；
vague rumors had been blown； looked lowering； and talked together in
low voices； standing apart in a group。 Some of them made a rather marked
show of secreting knives in the straw of their beds； and no doubt it had its
effect upon more than one young heart that secretly thrilled at the sight of
the shining blades。 However； all was undisturbed that evening。 The lights
were put out； and the lads retired with more than usual quietness； only for
the murmur of whispering。
All night Myles's sleep was more or less disturbed by dreams in which
he was now conquering； now being conquered； and before the day had
fairly broken he was awake。 He lay upon his cot； keying himself up for the
encounter which he had set upon himself to face； and it would not be the
truth to say that the sight of those knives hidden in the straw the night
before had made no impression upon him。 By…and…by he knew the others
were beginning to awake； for he heard them softly stirring； and as the light
grew broad and strong； saw them arise； one by one； and begin dressing in
the gray morning。 Then he himself arose and put on his doublet and hose；
strapping his belt tightly about his waist； then he sat down on the side of
his cot。
Presently that happened for which he was waiting； two of the younger
squires started to bring the bachelors' morning supply of water。 As they
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crossed the room Myles called to them in a loud voicea little uneven；
perhaps： 〃Stop！ We draw no more water for any one in this house； saving
only for ourselves。 Set ye down those buckets； and go back to your
places！〃
The two lads stopped； half turned； and then stood still； holding the
three buckets undecidedly。
In a moment all was uproar and confusion； for by this time every one
of the lads had arisen； some sitting on the edge of their beds； some nearly；
others quite dressed。 A half…dozen of the Knights of the Rose came over to
where Myles stood； gathering in a body behind him and the others
followed； one after another。
The bachelors were hardly prepared for such prompt and vigorous
action。
〃What is to do？〃 cried one of them； who stood near the two lads with
the buckets。 〃Why fetch ye not the water？〃
〃Falworth says we shall not fetch it；〃 answered one of the lads； a boy
by the name of Gosse。
〃What mean ye by that； Falworth？〃 the young man called to Myles。
Myles's heart was beating thickly and heavily within him； but
nevertheless he spoke up boldly enough。 〃I mean；〃 said he； 〃that from
henceforth ye shall fetch and carry for yourselves；〃
〃Look'ee； Blunt；〃 called the bachelor； 〃here is Falworth says they
squires will fetch no more water for us。〃
The head bachelor had heard all that had passed； and was even then
hastily slipping on his doublet and hose。 〃Now； then； Falworth；〃 said he at
last； striding forward； 〃what is to do？ Ye will fetch no more water； eh？ By
'r Lady； I will know the reason why。〃
He was still advancing towards Myles； with two or three of the older
bachelors at his heels； when Gascoyne spoke。
〃Thou 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；
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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 matchperhaps more than
a matchfor 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。