He stood still, making sure of the hilt of his weapon, but the horsemen came near and at once sprang to the ground, coming forward.
"Knowest thou me?" said the foremost man. "Thy fellows have escaped me, but thou shalt not. I will feed thee to the wild beasts!"
"O master of the games," replied the jarl, "I am of the household of Caius."
"And I am from Pontius the Spearman!" shouted the master of the games. "O ye of Ethiopia, bind him fast!"
The three with him were black slaves, armed with shields and short swords and jereeds, but they were naked to their waists.
"Yield thee, O Saxon," cried out Abbas, mockingly. "I have thy Miriam securely and she will soon belong to my friend."
Now the master of the games was in full armor, but he had turned a moment for the ordering of his slaves. He stooped a little, also, to loosen a coil of cordage that was in his hand for the binding of the jarl, supposing him to be unarmed and helpless against five armed men.
Then swiftly flashed the bright gladius in the hand of Ulric and the head of the master of the games fell to the earth.
"Thou hast sold Miriam?" heard Abbas, a hoarse whisper, but he heard no more, for the sword had flashed again.
The light shaft of a jereed snapped as its blade struck upon the hidden mail of the jarl and the black striker fell across the body of Abbas. His next companion was as a defenseless man before the angry might of Ulric, and hardly was he down before the slave to whom had been given the holding of the horses lay among their hoofs.