"Now, Walter, we must find Catesby!" cried Harleston.
"Yea, I must find him," I replied between my set teeth, as forward we dashed.
Michael gave one great cheer and then leaned forward with his mighty sword, that took the strength of two good men to wield, held beside his huge steed's neck.
On we flew, whilst forward dashed a band of knights and squires to meet us.
"Charge! charge! charge!" rang out on every side.
A crash!—curses,—cheers and groans! and then the sharp swords flashed over head, and the shields rang out right lustily.
My lance did resist the shock of the first encounter; the knight against whom I aimed it going down before my furious charge as though he had been a reed.
Sharply I spurred my steed and dashed forward at another knight, which bravely came on to meet me. Both lances shivered up to the very grasp. Drawing my good sword I again made at him. Then came a terrible blow upon my side, and I was shot from my saddle as a stone from a sling. Some cowardly knave had borne down upon me from the right whilst I was drawing my sword to attack my more worthy antagonist. His lance's point had struck beneath mine arm, and 'twas to our good King Edward's noble present that I owed my life.
I must have been stunned for a moment; for the next thing I knew of was a knee upon my chest and a visored face bending o'er me.
"Now I will finish the work left incomplete when last we met." It was Catesby.