So when Christopher was armed, Jack turned about speedily, and so gat
him back through the ford and stood there on the bank with the nine
other folk of the Tofts. And by this time was Gandolf of Brimside armed
also, and Oliver Marson, who had done his helm on him, was gone to his
side of the river.
Drew the huge man-at-arms then toward Christopher, but his sword was yet
in the sheath: Christopher set his point to the earth and abode him; and
the Baron spake: "Lad, thou art fair and bold both, as I can see it, and
Jack of the Tofts is so much an old foe of mine that he is well-nigh a
friend: so what sayest thou? If thou wilt yield thee straightway, I will
have both thine head and the outlaw's with me to King Rolf, but yet on
your shoulders and ye two alive. Haps will go as haps will; and it
maybe that ye shall both live for another battle, and grow wiser, and
mayhappen abide in the wood with the reiver's men. Hah? What sayest
thou?"
Christopher laughed and said: "Wouldst thou pardon one who is not yet
doomed, Baron? And yet thy word is pleasant to us; for we see that if we
win thee, thou shalt be good liegeman of us. Now, Baron, sword in fist!"
Gandolf drew his sword, muttering: "Ah, hah! he is lordly and kingly
enough, yet may this learn him a lesson." Indeed the blade was huge and
brown and ancient, and sword and man had looked a very terror save to
one great-hearted.
But Christopher said: "What sayest thou now, Baron, shall we cast down
our shields to earth? For why should we chop into wood and leather?"
The Baron cast down his shield, and said: "Bold are thy words, lad; if
thy deeds go with them, it may be better for thee than for me. Now keep
thee."
And therewith he leapt forward and swept his huge sword around; but
Christopher swerved speedily and enough, so that the blade touched him
not, and the huge man had over-reached himself, and ere he had his sword
well under sway again, Christopher had smitten him so sharply on the
shoulder that the mails were sundered & the blood ran; and withal the
Baron staggered with the mere weight of the stroke. Then Christopher
saw his time, and leapt aloft and dealt such a stroke on the side of his
head, that the Baron tottered yet more; but now was he taught by those
two terrible strokes, and he gathered all his heart to him, and all the
might of his thews, and leapt aback and mastered his sword, and came on
fierce but wary, shouting out for Brimside and the King.
Christopher cried never a cry, but swung his sword well within his
sway, and the stroke came on Gandolf's fore-arm and brake the mails and
wounded him, and then as the Baron rushed forward, the wary lad gat his
blade under his foeman's nigh the hilts, and he gave it a wise twist and
forth flew the ancient iron away from its master.
Gandolf seemed to heed not that he was swordless, but gave out a great
roar and rushed at Christopher to close with him, and the well-knit
lad gave back before him and turned from side to side, and kept the
sword-point before Gandolf's eyes ever, till suddenly, as the Baron was
running his fiercest, he made a mighty sweep at his right leg, since
he had no more to fear his sword, and the edge fell so strong and true,
that but for the byrny-hose he had smitten the limb asunder, and even
as it was it made him a grievous wound, so that the Lord of Brimside fell
clattering to the earth, and Christopher bestrode him and cried: "How
sayest thou, champion, is it enough?"
"Yea, enough, and maybe more," said the Baron. "Wilt thou smite off mine
head? Or what wilt thou?"
Said Christopher: "Here hath been enough smiting, meseemeth, save thy
lads and ours have a mind to buckle to; and lo thou! men are running
down from the bents towards us from both sides, yet not in any warlike
manner as yet. Now, Baron, here cometh thy grim squire that I heard
called Oliver, and if thou wilt keep the troth, thou shalt bid him order
thy men so that they fall not upon us till the battle be duly pitched.
Then shalt thou be borne home, since thou canst not go, with no
hindrance from us."
Now was Oliver come indeed, and the other nine with him, and on the
other side was come Jack of the Tofts and four others.
Then spake the Baron of Brimside: "I may do better than thou biddest me;
for now I verily trow herein, that thou art the son of Christopher the
Old; so valiant as thou art, and so sad a smiter, and withal that
thou fearest not to let thy foeman live. So hearken all ye, and thou
specially, Oliver Marson, my captain: I am now become the man of my lord
King Christopher, and will follow him whereso he will; and I deem that
will presently be to Oakenham, and the King's seat there. Now look to it
that thou, Oliver, order my men under King Christopher's banner, till
I be healed; and then if all be not over, I shall come forth myself,
shield on neck and spear in fist, to do battle for my liege lord; so
help me God and St. James of the Water!"
Therewith speech failed him and his wit therewith; so betwixt them they
unarmed him and did him what leechdom they might do there and then; and
he was nowise hurt deadly: as for Child Christopher, he had no scratch
of steel on him. And Oliver knelt before him when he had dight his own
lord, and swore fealty to him then and there; and so departed, to order
the folk of Brimside and tell them the tidings, and swear them liege men
of King Christopher.