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sword of John was longer by a hand's breadth than that Hugh carried as
a merchant； which was heavy； of such a make as the ancient Romans
used； and sharpened on either edge。 Neither of them wore armour； since
Hugh had no right to do so； and John had not come out to fight。
They stood still for a moment in the midst of a breathless silence；
the red light of the stormy sunset striking across them both。
Everything was red； the smoke…clouds rising from the sullen； burning
marsh； into which the fire was still eating far away； the waters of
the Blythe brimful with the tide that had just turned toward the sea；
the snow and ice itself。 Even the triangle of wild swans brought by
the hard weather from the northern lands looked red as they pursued
their heavy and majestic flight toward the south； heedless of man and
his affairs beneath。
Not long did these remain heedless； however； since； either to show his
skill or for some other purpose of his own； Grey Dick lifted his bow
and loosed an arrow； almost； it seemed； at hazard。 Yet that arrow
pierced the leader of the flock； so that down it came in wide circles；
and in a last struggle hovered for a moment over the group of men；
then fell among them with a thud； the blood from its pierced breast
bespattering Sir Edmund Acour and John Clavering's black hair。
〃An ill omen for those two； and especially for him who wears a white
swan for a crest；〃 said a voice。 But at the moment none took much
notice； except Grey Dick； who chuckled at the success of his shot；
since all were intent on greater mattersnamely； which of those two
young men should die。
Sir John； the father； rode forward and addressed them。
〃To the death without mercy to the fallen；〃 he said grimly。
They bent their heads in answer。
〃Now！〃 he cried； and reined back his horse。
〃The first home thrust wins；〃 whispered Acour to him； as he wiped the
blood of the swan off his sleeve。 〃Thank God； your son's sword is the
longer！〃
Perhaps the pair heard this whisper； or； perhaps； being without mail；
they knew that it was so。 At least for a while they circled round and
round each other； but out of reach。
Then at length John Clavering rushed in and thrust。 Hugh sprang back
before his point。 Again he rushed and thrust and again Hugh sprang
back。 A third time and Hugh fairly ran； whereon a shout went up from
the Claverings。
〃The chapman's afraid！〃 cried one。 〃Give him a yard measure；〃 shouted
another； 〃he cannot handle steel！〃
Eve turned her face； and her very eyes were sick with doubt。
〃Is it true？〃 she gasped。
〃Ay；〃 answered Dick the Archer； 〃it's true that he draws him to the
river bank！ Those who wait will learn why。 Oh； the swan！ He sees not
the swan！〃
As he spoke； Hugh； in his retreat before another of John Clavering's
rushes； struck his foot against the great dead bird； and staggered。
John leapt upon him； and he went down。
〃Is he pierced？〃 muttered Eve。
〃Nay； missed；〃 answered Dick； 〃by half an inch。 Ah； I thought so！〃
As the words left his lips Clavering fell sprawling on his back； for
Hugh had caught his leg with his left arm and thrown him； so that they
lay both together on the ground。
There they closed； rolling over each other； but too close to stab。
〃Now good…night； John；〃 said Dick； with his hoarse chuckle。 〃Throat
him； masterthroat him！〃
The flurry in the snow was at an end。 John lay on his back； de Cressi
knelt on him and lifted his short sword。
〃Do you yield？〃 men heard him say。
〃Nay；〃 answered Clavering。 Then suddenly Hugh rose and suffered his
adversary to do likewise。
〃I'll not stick you like a hog！〃 he said； and some cried； 〃Well done！〃
for the act seemed noble。 Only Acour muttered； 〃Fool！〃
Next instant they were at it again； but this time it was Hugh who
attacked and John who gave back right to the river's edge； for skill
and courage seemed to fail him at once。
〃Turn your head； lady；〃 said Dick； 〃for now one must die。〃 But Eve
could not。
The swords flashed for the last time in the red light； then that of de
Cressi vanished。 Clavering threw his arms wide； and fell backward。 A
splash as of a great stone thrown into water； and all was done。
Hugh stood a moment on the river's bank； staring at the stream
beneath； then he turned and began to walk slowly toward the dead swan。
Ere ever he reached it Sir John Clavering fell from his horse in a
swoon； and a shout of rage went up from all his people。
〃Kill him！〃 they yelled； and leapt forward。
Now Hugh understood； and ran for the point of land。 One man； a
Frenchman； got in front of him。 He cut him down； and sped on。
〃What now？〃 said Eve； as he joined them。
He did not answer； only pointed first to the Clavering folk and next
to the water； showing that she must choose between the two。
〃Swim for it！〃 growled Grey Dick。 〃I'll hold them back a while and
then join you；〃 and as he spoke his bow twanged。
For an instant Eve paused； then threw off her scarlet cloak。
〃Remember； I slew your brother！〃 said Hugh hoarsely。
〃I remember that he would have slain you；〃 she answered； and leapt
straight from the point into the icy flood； beneath which her head
sank。
When it rose again there was another head beside it； that of dead
John； who appeared for one moment； to be seen no more for ever； since
ere morning the ocean had him。
Now Hugh leapt after her； and presently the pair of them were swimming
side by side to the river's further shore。 Then； as now； it was but a
narrow stream。 Yet they did not reach it easily； for； cumbered as they
were with clothes； and numbed by the ice…cold water； the fierce tide
caught them and carried them beyond the bend。 There they were lost in
the gathering darkness； so that most of those who watched believed
that they had sunk and drowned。 But it was not so； for after a long
struggle they came safe to shore near to a clump of willows； and
clambered over the frozen mud to the heath beyond。
〃First fire； then water；〃 said Hugh； in a mazed voice。
〃You have missed out love and death；〃 answered the girl〃a full feast
for a day that is not done。 But whither now？〃
〃To take sanctuary at the Preceptory and raise my kin。 Forward； Eve；
ere you freeze。〃
〃I think there is that in me which will not freeze；〃 she answered； and
broke into a run。
Now night closed in； and the snow which had been threatening all day
began to fall； making their path over the heath difficult。
〃We need Grey Dick to guide us； but alack； I fear he is dead！〃
muttered Hugh。
〃I think others will be dead； not Dick；〃 she answered。
Just then they heard a footstep behind them。
Hugh wheeled round and drew his sword； but almost before it had left
the scabbard a long figure glided out of the snow； and said：
〃More to the left； master； more to the left； unless you would make
your peace on Blythburgh bridge； where some would be glad to meet
you。〃
〃How went it？〃 asked Hugh shortly。
〃Not well。 I shot thrice and slew three men； two of the French
knights； and Thomas of Kessland； against whom I had a score that now
is settled。 But the fourth time I missed。〃
〃Who？〃 asked Eve between her teeth as she ran beside him。
〃The F