"If that be so," said I, "you are not the cur I took you for; for I had
no business to be nodding. Stay here, and I will fetch you a sword, and
you shall die like an Englishman."
"I ask nothing better," said he, "even if it be at the hands of an
Englishman turned traitor."
That took the spirit clean out of me. Was it not true? Was not this
fellow a truer servant of her Majesty than I, who for months had done
naught but break her laws, assault her mayors, fire on her flag, and
slay her soldiers? Yet, how could I help it?
The fellow's gibe made me so miserable that instead of fetching him a
sword, I gave him mine, and bade him do to me as I deserved.
He laughed.
"By my soul, no!" said he. "If you be a servant of her Majesty, 'tis
not for me to touch you. If you be not, the sword belongs to you, and I
call it no shame to die by it. Yet, if you are minded to fetch me a
weapon, I warrant you I shall not run away till you come again."
So I went and fetched him a sword. And we fought there a half-hour by
the clock, till our breath failed us, and never a blow could we get home
on one another. I had no stomach for the business; and yet, when I
found him so stubborn a swordsman, my blood got up, and I think I should
have run him through if I could. But he had no mind to let me, and put
me to it hard to keep my own skin whole.
So we halted to fetch breath, and before we could go to it again, the
maiden came out of her lodging and stood betwixt us.
"Put by your swords," said she, "I command you both. What is your
quarrel? and have you no work for your captain, that you thus bring
civil war into his castle?"
"By your leave, fair maiden," said the Englishman, "no man here is my
captain. This brave lad is an enemy to my Queen; therefore it is my
duty to slay him."
"If so," said the maiden, "I too must be slain, for I love not your
Queen."
"But you be no traitor like this--"
Here I whipped out my sword, and we were at it again, ere the maiden,
with flashing eyes, could step once more between us.
"Humphrey Dexter!" cried she in a voice I hope I may not hear from her
lips again, "give me your sword, sir."