"Come up here, you dirty villain; and I'll dust your rags for you," cried Nat, flourishing his staff.
"If you will use a shorter staff than this, Master Wind-bag," said the beggar, quietly, and showing his stick, "I'll take all the beating you can give me."
With scornful laughter Nat accepted this challenge.
The beggar took off his ragged coat and limped painfully on to the stage.
They fenced for an opening, both playing well. The beggar, for all his limp and one eye, had a pretty notion of the sport, but he had the queerest gait upon him; and as he hobbled round and round the stage under Nat's blows the people laughed continuously.
ROBIN HOOD DEFEATS NAT OF NOTTINGHAM AT QUARTER-STAFF
The beggar dealt his foe a back-thrust so neatly, so heartily, and so swiftly that Nat was swept off the stage into the crowd as a fly off a table.
Nat caught him smartly upon the right arm a sounding thwack. The beggar made as if to drop his staff forthright, and Nat lifted himself for another and crushing blow.
But the one-eyed man recovered his guard, sprang suddenly on one side, and, as Nat's staff was descending vainly, the beggar dealt his foe a back-thrust so neatly, so heartily, and so swiftly that Nat was swept off the stage into the crowd as a fly off a table.
The beggar waited the full time for him to return; and then claimed the prize.