“Give the poor girl to me, my brave lad,” chorused a score of voices; “you cannot fight with her burden in your arms.”
“Never fear, good people,” said Ned, “whether I live or die, this poor girl shall never leave my embrace while I have power to protect her.”
With the ferocity of two tigers Redgill and young Warbeck commenced the duel, surrounded as they were by a numerous company of breathless spectators.
Again and again they cut and thrust at each other with ferocious violence.
Redgill had the advantage of weight, height, and reach, independent of not holding any burden.
But Ned Warbeck was confident and bold.
Again they approached to dangerous nearness, and each moment seemed as if it would decide the combat.
But Ned Warbeck was fully aware of his opponent’s cunning, and treated his cowardly thrust with a loud laugh of contempt.
Once or twice it seemed as if Redgill really intended to murder Ellen Harmer as she unconsciously clung to the brave youth her protector.
In looking after her safety, therefore, Ned Warbeck often missed excellent opportunities for wounding Redgill seriously. On the other hand, however, Ned Warbeck was falling weak, and he received several slight cuts in the arms and legs.