Blunt, grinding his teeth, struck one undercut at hisopponent--the same undercut that Myles had that time struck atSir James Lee at the knight's bidding when he first practised atthe Devlen pels. Myles met the blow as Sir James had met the blowthat he had given, and then struck in return as Sir James hadstruck--full and true. The bascinet that Blunt wore glanced theblow partly, but not entirely. Myles felt his sword bite throughthe light steel cap, and Blunt dropped his own blade clatteringupon the floor. It was all over in an instant, but in thatinstant what he saw was stamped upon Myles's mind with anindelible imprint. He saw the young man stagger backward; he sawthe eyes roll upward; and a red streak shoot out from under thecap 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 hisbattle dissolving rapidly into a dumb fear at that which he haddone.
Once again he had won the victory--but what a victory! "Is hedead?" he whispered to Gascoyne.
"I know not," said Gascoyne, with a very pale face. "But comeaway, Myles." And he led his friend out of the room.
Some little while later one of the bachelors came to thedormitory where Myles, his wounds smarting and aching andthrobbing, lay stretched upon his cot, and with a very seriousface bade him to go presently to Sir James, who had just comefrom dinner, and was then in his office.
By this time Myles knew that he had not slain his enemy, and hisheart was light in spite of the coming interview. There was noone in the office but Sir James and himself, and Myles, withoutconcealing anything, told, point by point, the whole trouble. SirJames sat looking steadily at him for a while after he had ended.
"Never," said he, presently, "did I know any one of ye squires,in all the time that I have been here, get himself into so manybroils as thou, Myles Falworth. Belike thou sought to take thislad's life.""Nay," said Myles, earnestly; "God forbid!""Ne'theless," said Sir James, "thou fetched him a main shrewdblow; and it is by good hap, and no fault of thine, that he willlive to do more mischief yet. This is thy second venture at him;the third time, haply, thou wilt end him for good." Then suddenlyassuming his grimmest and sternest manner: "Now, sirrah, do I puta stop to this, and no more shall ye fight with edged tools. Getthee to the dormitory, and abide there a full week without comingforth. Michael shall bring thee bread and water twice a day forthat time. That is all the food thou shalt have, and we will seeif that fare will not cool thy hot humors withal."Myles had expected a punishment so much more severe than thatwhich was thus meted to him, that in the sudden relief he brokeinto a convulsive laugh, and then, with a hasty sweep, wiped abrimming moisture from his eyes.
Sir James looked keenly at him for a moment. "Thou art white i'
the face," said he. "Art thou wounded very sorely?""Nay" said Myles, "it is not much; but I be sick in my stomach.""Aye, aye," said Sir James; "I know that feeling well. It is thusthat one always feeleth in coming out from a sore battle when onehath suffered wounds and lost blood. An thou wouldst keep thyselfhale, keep thyself from needless fighting. Now go thou to thedormitory, and, as I said, come thou not forth again for a week.
Stay, sirrah!" he added; "I will send Georgebarber to thee tolook to thy sores. Green wounds are best drawn and salved erethey grow cold."I wonder what Myles would have thought had he known that so soonas he had left the office, Sir James had gone straight to theEarl and recounted the whole matter to him, with a deal of drygusto, and that the Earl listened laughing.
"Aye," said he, when Sir James had done, "the boy hath mettle,sure. Nevertheless, we must transplant this fellow Blunt to theoffice of gentleman- in-waiting. He must be old enough now, andgin he stayeth in his present place, either he will do the boy aharm, or the boy will do him a harm."So Blunt never came again to trouble the squires' quarters; andthereafter the youngsters rendered no more service to the elders.
Myles's first great fight in life was won.
