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heavy sword that he wore； and； shouting out； 〃Make way！〃 to those who
stood between him and the little promontory； started to run again。
These opened to the right and left to let him pass； for they feared
the look in his eyes and the steel in his hand。 Only young John
Clavering； who had leapt from his horse； would not budge。 As Hugh
tried to push past him； he struck him in the face； calling out：
〃We have caught the de Cressi thief！ Take him and hang him！〃
At the insult of the blow and words； Hugh stopped dead and turned
quite white； whereupon the men； thinking that he was afraid； closed in
upon him。 Then in the silence the harsh； croaking voice of Grey Dick
was heard saying：
〃Sir John of Clavering； bid your people let my master go； or I will
send an arrow through your heart！〃 and he lifted the long bow and drew
it。
Sir John muttered something； thinking that this was a poor way to die；
and again the men fell back； except one French knight； who； perhaps；
did not catch or understand his words。
This man stretched out his hand to seize Hugh； but before ever it fell
upon his shoulder the bow twanged and Acour's retainer was seen
whirling round and round； cursing with pain。 In the palm of his hand
was an arrow that had sunk through it to the feathers。
〃You are right； that knave shoots well；〃 said the Count to Sir John；
who made no answer。
Now again all fell back； so that Hugh might have run for it if he
would。 But his blood was up； and he did not stir。
〃John Clavering；〃 he said； addressing the young man； 〃just now； when I
lay hid in yonder hole； I heard you say that if you had five minutes
with me alone you'd beat me to a pulp and hang what was left of me on
the nearest tree。 Well； here I stand； and there's a tree。 Having first
tried to burn me and your sister； you have struck me in the face。 Will
you make good your words； or shall I strike /you/ in the face and go
my way？ Nay； keep your dogs off me！ Grey Dick yonder has more arrows。〃
Now a tumult rose； some saying one thing and some another； but all
keeping an eye upon Grey Dick and his bent bow。 At last Sir Edmund
Acour rode forward； and in his polished； stately way said to John：
〃Young sir； this merchant is in the right； and whatever his trade may
be； his blood is as good as your own。 After your brave words； either
you should fight him or take back the blow you gave。〃
Then he leaned down and whispered into John's ear：
〃Your sword is longer than his。 Make an end of him and of all his
trouble； lest men should laugh at you as an empty boaster。〃
Now John； who was brave and needed but little urging； turned to his
father and said：
〃Have I your leave to whip this fellow； sir？〃
〃You should have asked that before you struck him in the face；〃
replied the knight。 〃You are a man grown。 Do as best pleases you。 Only
if you take the blow； begone from Blythburgh。〃
Then Eve； who all this time had been listening； called out from where
she stood above the river。
〃Brother John； if you fight your cousin Hugh； who is my affianced
husband； and fall； on your own head be it； for know； your blood shall
not stand between him and me； since it was you who struck him； and not
he you。 Be warned； John； and let him go； lest he should send you
farther than you wish to travel。 And to you； Hugh； I say； though it is
much to ask； if he throws down his sword； forget that unknightly blow
and come thither。〃
〃You hear；〃 said Hugh shortly to John。 〃Now； because she is your
sister； if it's your will I'll begone in peace。〃
〃Ay；〃 answered John； setting his thin lips； 〃because you are a coward；
woman…thief； and seek to live that you may bring shame upon our House。
Well； that will pass when you die presently！〃
〃John； John； boast not；〃 cried Eve。 〃Who has shown you where you will
sleep to…night？〃
〃Whether I shall live or die； God knows alone；〃 said Hugh solemnly。
〃But what I seek to know is； should it chance to be your lot to die；
whether your people or this Frenchman will set on me； or raise a
blood…feud against me。 Tell me now； Sir John Clavering。〃
〃If you kill my son in combat /？outrance/； he being the challenger；〃
answered the knight； 〃none shall lift hand against you for that deed
if I can hold them back。 But know that I have other cause of quarrel
against you〃and he pointed to his daughter〃and that if you meddle
more with her； who is not for you； certainly you shall die。〃
〃And； young sir；〃 broke in Sir Edmund； 〃I pray you to understand that
this Lady Eve to…morrow becomes my wife with the will of her father
and her kin； and that if you try to stand between us； although I may
not fight you； seeing what I am and what you are； I'll kill you like a
rat when and where I get the chance！ Yes；〃 he added； in a savage
snarl； 〃I pledge my knightly honour that I will kill you like a rat；
if I must follow you across the world to do so！〃
〃You will not have need to travel far if I have my will；〃 answered the
young man sternly； 〃since Red Eve is mine； not yours； and； living or
dead； mine she will remain。 As for your fine knightly honour； Sir
Edmund Acour； Count de Noyon； Seigneur of Cattrina； what has a traitor
to his King to do with honour； one who is here as a spy of Philip of
France； as the poor merchant's lad knows well？ Oh； take you hand from
your sword； of which you say I am not worthy； and； since you say also
that I have so many enemies； let me begin with a squire of my own
degree。〃
Now at these bold words arose a clamour of voices speaking in French
and English。
〃What say you to this； Sir Edmund？〃 shouted Sir John Clavering above
them all。 〃You are a great lord and a wealthy； beloved by me also as
the affianced of my daughter； but I am a loyal Englishman who have no
truck with traitors to my King。〃
〃What say I？〃 asked Sir Edmund calmly。 〃I say that if this fellow can
fight as well as he can lie； your son has but a poor chance with him。
As you know well； I came hither from France to visit my estates； not
to learn what strength his Grace of England； my liege lord； gathers
for the new war with Philip。〃
〃Enough；〃 said Sir John； 〃though this is the first I have heard of
such a war； for it would seem that you know more of King Edward's mind
than I do。 The light begins to fail； there is no time for talk。 Stand
clear； all men； and let these two settle it。〃
〃Ay；〃 croaked Grey Dick； 〃stand clear； all men； while my master cuts
the throat of his cousin Clavering； since he who stands not clear
shall presently lie straight！〃 and he tapped his terrible bow with his
right hand； then instantly seized the string again。
The two were face to face。 Round them on horse and on foot； at a
distance perhaps of twenty paces； were gathered the Clavering men and
the French Count's troop； for now all had come up from the far parts
of the marsh。 Only toward the river side the ring was open； whether
because those who made it feared Grey Dick's arrows； or in order that
he and Red Eve might see everything that chanced。
The pair were well matched； for though Hugh was the taller； John； his
senior by a year； was thicker set and better trained in arms。 But the
sword of John was longer by a hand's