But there his words were of a sudden checked; and he stood staring at a point on the floor beneath the bench, three yards away. There, where half an hour before all had been deepest shadow, the sloping beam of the afternoon sun now rested, and brought to clear and certain view the iron collar.
With an oath he sprang forward and seized it. Holding it up before us, he read in a loud voice the graven words:
“Egbert, Thrall of William, Lord of Gilroy.”
Cedric stood facing him; and none of us spoke any word. Then Gilroy flung the collar on the floor and burst forth:
“Ah then! ’Tis even as I thought. One churl will help another in any strait.”
At this insult to my comrade, my hand flew to where my good sword should have been; and I ground my teeth to find it not. But Gilroy paid no heed to me. Instantly he sprang forward toward the inner door.
“We’ll see what lies within,” he shouted.
But Cedric De La Roche was quicker yet. He leaped before the door, and with a mighty push sent Lord Gilroy half across the room. Then both Gilroy and Carrington drew swords and rushed upon us. By this time I had gathered my wits, and recalling the goodly weapon at my very back, had turned and seized the rusted broadsword from above the fireplace. I was but just in time to receive the attack of both of them at once; for Cedric stooped to reach his cross-bow which rested against the wall, ready drawn and with the bolt he had meant for the hound still in groove. For a moment I withstood the double attack; then Sir Philip only was before me. He fought fiercely enough, forsooth, but in a most lubberly fashion. Half a dozen strokes and I caught his weapon with a twist I had long practiced and sent it clattering across the floor. Then with loud menaces of running him through the body, I drove him before me to the wall where I made him stand with hands above his head. Glancing sidewise, I now beheld the Lord of Gilroy in the same pitiful plight. His weapon also lay on the floor; and Cedric stood before him with cross-bow leveled at his heart.
“Wilt thou slay us then,” growled Gilroy, “in unseemly brawl over this runagate?”
“Nay,” answered Cedric sweetly, “but ye are our prisoners, duly taken. If we grant your lives and arms, you shall give us knightly word to retire from the lands of Grimsby, and give o’er this bloody hunting you were bent upon.”