So when Christopher was armed, Jack turned about speedily, and sogat him back through the ford and stood there on the bank with the nineother folk of the Tofts. And by this time was Gandolf of Brimside armedalso, and Oliver Marson, who had done his helm on him, was gone to hisside of the river.
Drew the huge man-at-arms then toward Christopher, but his swordwas yet in the sheath: Christopher set his point to the earth and abodehim; 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 afriend: so what sayest thou? If thou wilt yield thee straightway, I will haveboth thine head and the outlaw's with me to King Rolf, but yet on yourshoulders and ye two alive. Haps will go as haps will; and it maybe thatye shall both live for another battle, and grow wiser, and mayhappen abidein the wood with the reiver's men. Hah? What sayest thou?"
Christopher laughed and said: "Wouldst thou pardon one who is notyet doomed, Baron? And yet thy word is pleasant to us; for we see that ifwe win thee, thou shalt be good liegeman of us. Now, Baron, sword infist!"
Gandolf drew his sword, muttering: "Ah, hah! he is lordly and kinglyenough, yet may this learn him a lesson. "Indeed the blade was huge andbrown and ancient, and sword and man had looked a very terror save toone great-hearted.
But Christopher said: "What sayest thou now, Baron, shall we castdown our shields to earth? For why should we chop into wood andleather?"
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. Nowkeep thee."
And therewith he leapt forward and swept his huge sword around; butChristopher swerved speedily and enough, so that the blade touched him not, and the huge man had over-reached himself, and ere he had his swordwell under sway again, Christopher had smitten him so sharply on theshoulder that the mails were sundered & the blood ran; and withal theBaron staggered with the mere weight of the stroke. Then Christophersaw 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 twoterrible strokes, and he gathered all his heart to him, and all the might ofhis thews, and leapt aback and mastered his sword, and came on fierce butwary, shouting out for Brimside and the King.