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in a wrestling match like two country hodges。〃
〃Thou art a coward caitiff； Walter Blunt！〃 burst out Wilkes； who stood
by with a swelling lump upon his head； already as big as a walnut。 〃Well
thou knowest that Falworth is no match for thee at broadsword play。 Is he
not four years younger than thou； and hast thou not had three times the
practice in arms that he hath had？ I say thou art a coward to seek to fight
with cutting weapons。〃
Blunt made no answer to Wilkes's speech； but gazed steadfastly at
Myles； with a scornful smile curling the corners of his lips。 Myles stood
looking upon the ground without once lifting his eyes； not knowing what
to answer； for he was well aware that he was no match for Blunt with the
broadsword。
〃Thou art afraid to fight me； Myles Falworth；〃 said Blunt； tauntingly；
and the bachelors gave a jeering laugh in echo。
Then Myles looked up； and I cannot say that his face was not a trifle
whiter than usual。 〃Nay；〃 said he； 〃I am not afraid； and I will fight thee；
Blunt。〃
〃So be it；〃 said Blunt。 〃Then let us go at it straightway in the armory
yonder； for they be at dinner in the Great Hall； and just now there be'st no
one by to stay us。〃
〃Thou shalt not fight him； Myles！〃 burst out Gascoyne。 〃He will
murther thee！ Thou shalt not fight him； I say！〃
Myles turned away without answering him。
〃What is to do？〃 called one of those who were still looking out of the
windows as the crowd of boys passed beneath。
〃Blunt and Falworth are going to fight it out hand to hand in the
armory；〃 answered one of the bachelors； looking up。
The brawling of the squires was a jest to all the adjoining part of the
house。 So the heads were withdrawn again； some laughing at the 〃sparring
of the cockerels。〃
But it was no jesting matter to poor Myles。
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MEN OF IRON
CHAPTER 16
I have no intention to describe the fight between Myles Falworth and
Walter Blunt。 Fisticuffs of nowadays are brutal and debasing enough； but a
fight with a sharp…edged broadsword was not only brutal and debasing； but
cruel and bloody as well。
From the very first of the fight Myles Falworth was palpably and
obviously overmatched。 After fifteen minutes had passed； Blunt stood hale
and sound as at first； but poor Myles had more than one red stain of warm
blood upon doublet and hose； and more than one bandage had been
wrapped by Gascoyne and Wilkes about sore wounds。
He had received no serious injury as yet； for not only was his body
protected by a buckler； or small oblong shield； which he carried upon his
left arm； and his head by a bascinet； or light helmet of steel； but perhaps；
after all； Blunt was not over…anxious to do him any dangerous harm。
Nevertheless； there could be but one opinion as to how the fight tended；
and Myles's friends were gloomy and downcast； the bachelors
proportionately exultant； shouting with laughter； and taunting Myles at
every unsuccessful stroke。
Once； as he drew back panting； leaning upon Gascoyne's shoulder； the
faithful friend whispered； with trembling lips： 〃Oh； dear Myles； carry it no
further。 Thou hurtest him not； and he will slay thee ere he have done with
thee。〃
Thereupon Blunt； who caught the drift of the speech； put in a word。
〃Thou art sore hurt； Myles Falworth；〃 said he； 〃and I would do thee no
grievous harm。 Yield thee and own thyself beaten； and I will forgive thee。
Thou hast fought a good fight； and there is no shame in yielding now。〃
〃Never！〃 cried Myles； hoarsely〃never will I yield me！ Thou mayst
slay me； Walter Blunt； and I reck not if thou dost do so； but never else wilt
thou conquer me。〃
There was a tone of desperation in his voice that made all look serious。
〃Nay；〃 said Blunt； 〃I will fight thee no more； Myles Falworth； thou
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MEN OF IRON
hast had enough。〃
〃By heavens！〃 cried Myles； grinding his teeth； 〃thou shalt fight me；
thou coward！ Thou hast brought this fight upon us； and either thou or I get
our quittance here。 Let go； Gascoyne！〃 he cried； shaking loose his friend's
hold； 〃I tell thee he shall fight me！〃
From that moment Blunt began to lose his head。 No doubt he had not
thought of such a serious fight as this when he had given his challenge；
and there was a savage bull…dog tenacity about Myles that could not but
have had a somewhat demoralizing effect upon him。
A few blows were given and taken； and then Myles's friends gave a
shout。 Blunt drew back； and placed his hand to his shoulder。 When he
drew it away again it was stained with red； and another red stain grew and
spread rapidly down the sleeve of his jacket。 He stared at his hand for a
moment with a half…dazed look； and then glanced quickly to right and left。
〃I will fight no more；〃 said he； sullenly。
〃Then yield thee！〃 cried Myles； exultantly。
The triumphant shouts of the Knights of the Rose stung Blunt like a
lash； and the battle began again。 Perhaps some of the older lads were of a
mind to interfere at this point； certainly some looked very serious； but
before they interposed； the fight was ended。
Blunt； grinding his teeth； struck one undercut at his opponentthe
same undercut that Myles had that time struck at Sir James Lee at the
knight's bidding when he first practised at the Devlen pels。 Myles met the
blow as Sir James had met the blow that he had given； and then struck in
return as Sir James had struckfull and true。 The bascinet that Blunt wore
glanced the blow partly； but not entirely。 Myles felt his sword bite through
the light steel cap； and Blunt dropped his own blade clattering upon the
floor。 It was all over in an instant； but in that instant what he saw was
stamped upon Myles's mind with an indelible imprint。 He saw the young
man stagger backward； he saw the eyes roll upward； and a red streak shoot
out from under the cap and run down across the cheek。
Blunt reeled half around； and then fell prostrate upon his face； and
Myles stood staring at him with the delirious turmoil of his battle
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