after reflection。
Now they landed and were received by heralds blowing trumpets； and
conducted through a great multitude of people with much pomp and
ceremony to a pavilion which had been pitched for them； where they
must arm and make ready。
This then they did； helped or hindered by bowing squires whose
language they could not understand。
At length； when it lacked but a quarter to the hour of nine； David Day
led Hugh's horse into the wide entrance of the pavilion； where they
examined its armour； bridle； selle and trappings。
〃The beast sweats already；〃 said Hugh； 〃and so do I； who； to tell
truth； dread this heat more than Cattrina's sword。 Pray that they get
to the business quickly； or I shall melt like butter on a hot plate。〃
Then his lance was given to him； a lance that was sharp and strong。
When they had been tested by them both； Hugh mounted the grey and at
the agreed signal of a single blast upon a trumpet； walked it slowly
from the pavilion； Dick going at his side on foot。
At their coming a shout went up from the assembled thousands； for in
truth it seemed； as Sir Geoffrey had said； as though all the folk in
Venice were gathered on that place。 When they had finished shouting
the people began to criticise； finding much in the appearance of this
pair that moved their ready wit。 Indeed there was little show about
them； for Hugh's plain armour； which lacked all ornament or inlay； was
worn with war and travel； and his horse came along as soberly as if it
were going out to plough。 Nor was there anything fine about the
apparel of Grey Dick； who wore a loose chain shirt much out of fashion
it was that which Sir Andrew had given to Hughan iron cap with
ear…pieces； and leather buskins on his legs。 In his hand was his axe；
heavy but not over large； at his side hung a great knife； and on his
back was the long black bow and a quiver of arrows。
Thus arrayed； taking no heed of the jests and chatter of the
multitude； they were led to the front of the bedecked timber stand
which they had seen on the previous night。 In the centre of this
stand； occupying a kind of tribune； sat the Doge Dandolo in state； and
with him many nobles and captains； while to right and left the whole
length of the course； for the stand was very long； were packed a
countless number of the best…born men and women in Venice。 These；
however； were but a tithe of the spectators； who encircled the Place
of Arms in one serried horde which was kept back by a line of
soldiers。
Arriving in front of the Doge's tribune； the pair halted and saluted
him； whereon he and his escort rose and saluted them in turn。 Then
another trumpet blew and from a second pavilion at the other end of
the course appeared Cattrina； wearing a splendid suit of white armour；
damascened in gold； with a silver swan upon the helm and a swan
painted on his shield。
〃Very fine； isn't it？〃 said Grey Dick to his master； 〃only this time I
hope he's inside the steel。 Ask to see his face before you fight；
master。〃
On came Cattrina on a noble black horse； which pawed and caracoled
notwithstanding the heat； while after him strode a gigantic figure
also clad from top to toe in white mail； who fiercely brandished a
long…handled battle…axe。
〃Ambrosio！〃 said Dick。 〃Now I ought to feel as much afraid as though
that fellow wore a yellow cap and fur cape and pearls like another
warrior whom we met last night。 Yet； to speak the truth； I believe he
has the fainter heart of the two。 Also if he swings that chopper about
so much he'll grow tired。〃
To the multitude； however； the gallant appearance of this pair； whom
they looked on as the champions of Venice against foreigners； appealed
not a little。 Amidst clapping of hands and 〃/evvivas！/〃 they advanced
to the Doge's tribune and there made their salutations； which the
Illustrious acknowledged as he had those of the Englishmen。
Then the heralds intervened and again all the articles of combat were
read and translated； although to these； of which they were weary； Hugh
and Dick listened little。 Next they were asked if they had any
objections to make and with one voice answered； 〃None。〃 But on the
same question being put to their adversaries； the Swiss； Ambrosio；
said that he with whom he must fight appeared to be armed with a bow；
which was against the articles。 Thereon Dick handed the bow and quiver
to David； bidding him guard them until he asked for them again as he
would his own life。 In the event of his death； however； David was to
give them to Sir Hugh； or if they both should die； to his own master；
Sir Geoffrey。 All of these things David promised to do。
Next followed a long discussion as to whether the four of them were to
fight in pairs； Cattrina and Ambrosio against Hugh and Dick
simultaneously； or whether Ambrosio was to fight alone with Dick； and
Cattrina with Hugh。 Upon Cattrina and Ambrosio being asked their
wishes； the former said that he desired to fight alone； as he feared
lest the English archer； if he overcame Ambrosio； should turn on him
also； or perhaps hamstring his horse。
Then the Englishmen were asked what they wished； and replied that they
did not care how it was arranged； being ready to fight either together
or separately； as the Doge might decree。
The end of it was that after long consultations with sundry experts in
such matters； the Most Illustrious decided that the Captains Ambrosio
and Richard the Archer should first engage on foot； and when that
business was settled the two knights should take their place in the
arena。
So the end of it was that more than half an hour after the combat
should have begun； Dick and the gigantic Ambrosio found themselves
standing face to face waiting for the signal to engage； the Swiss
shouting threats and defiance and Grey Dick grinning and watching him
out of his half…shut eyes。
At length it came in the shape of a single blast upon a trumpet。 Now
seeing that Dick stood quite still； not even raising his axe； the
Swiss advanced and struck a mighty blow at him； which Dick avoided by
stepping aside。 Recovering himself； again Ambrosio struck。 This blow
Dick caught upon his shield； then； as though he were afraid； began to
retreat； slowly at first； but afterward faster till his walk broke
into a run。
At this sight all that mighty audience set up a hooting。 〃Coward！ Dog！
Pig of an Englishman！〃 they yelled； and the louder they yelled the
more quickly did Grey Dick run； till at last even Hugh grew puzzled
wondering what was in his mind and hoping that he would change it
soon。 So the audience hooted； and Grey Dick ran and the giant Swiss
lumbered along after him； bellowing triumphantly and brandishing his
battle…axe； which； it was noted； never seemed to be quite long enough
to reach his flying foe。
When this had gone on for two or three minutes； Grey Dick stumbled and
fell。 The Swiss； who was following fast； likewise tripped and fell
over him heavily； whereon the multitude shouted：
〃Foul play！ A dirty； foreign trick！〃
In an instant Dick was up again； and had leapt upon the prostrate
Swiss； as all thought； to kill him。 But instead the only thing he did
was to get behind him and kick him with his foot until he also rose。
Thereat some laughed； but others； who had bets upon their champion；
groaned。
Now the Swiss； having lost his shield in his fall； rushed at Dick；
grasping his axe with both hands。 As before； the Englishman avoided
the blow； but for the first time he struck back； catching the giant on
the shoulder though not very heavily。 Then with a shout of 〃St。 George
and England！〃 he went in at him。
Hither and thither sprang Dick； now out of reach of the axe of the
Swiss and now beneath his guard。 But ever as he sprang he delivered
blow upon blow； each harder than the last； till there appeared scars
and rents in the fine white mail。 Soon it became clear that the great
Swiss was overmatched and spent。 He breathed heavily； his strokes grew
wild； he over…balanced； recovered himself； and at last in his turn
began to fly in good earnest。
Now after him went Dick； battering at his back； but； as all might see；
with the flat of his axe； not with its edge。 Yes； he was beating him
as a man might beat a carpet； beating him till he roared with pain。
〃Fight； Ambrosio； fight！ Don't fly！〃 shouted the crowd； and he tried
to wheel round； only to be knocked prostrate by a single blow upon the
head which the Englishman delivered with the hammer…like back of his
axe。
Then Dick was seen to kneel upon him and cut the lashings of his
helmet with his dagger； doubtless to give the /coup de gr鈉e/； or so
they thought。
〃Our man is murdered！〃 yelled the common people； while those of the
better sort remained shamed and silent。
Dick rose； and they groaned； thinking that all was done。 But lo！
stooping down he helped the breathless Swiss； whom he had disarmed； to
his feet。 Then； taking him by the nape of the neck； which was easy； as
his helmet was off； with one hand； while in the other he held his
bared knife； Dick thrust him before him till they reached the tribune
of the Doge。
〃Be pleased to tell the Illustrious；〃 he said； to Sir Geoffrey； 〃that
this braggart having surrendered； I spared his life and now return him
to his brother the Page quite unharmed； since I did not wish to wound
one who was in my power from the first。 Only when he gets home I pray
that he will look at his back in a glass and judge which of us it is
that has been 'beaten to a pulp。' Let him return thanks also to his
patron saint； who put pity in my heart； so that I did not cut him into
collops； as I promised。 For know； sir； that when I walked out yonder
it was my purpose to hew off his hands and shorten him at the knees。
Stayone word more。 If yonder boaster has more brothers who really
wish to fight； I'll take them one by one and swear to them that this
time I'll not give back a step unless I'm carried。〃
〃Do you indeed yield and accept the Englishman's mercy？〃 asked the
Doge in a stern voice。
The poor Ambrosio； making no answer； blundered forward among the crowd
and there vanished； and this was the last that Dick ever saw or heard
of him。 But； although he waited there a while； feeling