Sir Ludar | Page 5

sword and cloak," shouted a Bridge boy, who owned
neither, "if Will Peake do not over-jump the printer's devil's head."
This made me angry. Not that I cared for the gibe; but because I
disliked that one there should hear me called by so graceless a name.
Well, we jumped once more; but this time I dared not look anywhere,
but straight before me. Yet I cleared the bar.
Whereupon the Bridge boys vaunted themselves more soberly, and he
who had offered his cloak and sword now offered only his belt.
"Set the bar two points higher," I cried, "and clear me that, Will Peake,
if you can."
At that our lads rent the air with shouts, and Will Peake pulled a long
face. For the bar now stood level with his eyes, though it only reached
my chin.
It fell out as I hoped. He jumped, and the bar sprang six yards into the
air as he missed it.
Then our 'prentices made up for the silence of those of the Bridge; and

this time the gamester offered not so much as a shoe lace.
For all that, I must clear the bar, if I was to make good my challenge;
and I drew a long breath as I stood a moment and glanced round.
Yes. Her eyes of blue were on me, her lips were the least bit parted, and
a glow of expectation was in her cheeks.
So I took my run and cleared the bar, with an inch to spare.
Then, as I heard nothing of the shouts which yet deafened me, and durst
not so much as raise my eyes, the cheery alderman's voice cried:
"So Master Dexter hath won the high jump. See if he also win the
broad. Clear away there, and stand back, good people, to give our brave
lads fair play."
When I took courage at last to look up, I saw a sight which made the
blood in my veins tingle.
She stood still where she was; but next to her had squeezed himself a
smirking gallant, bravely bedizened, who looked round impudently into
her face, and whispered something in her ear.
To me it seemed as if at first she was heedless of his presence, then,
hearing him, she turned upon him a startled gaze, and, flushing angrily,
moved a scornful pace away.
This I saw, while the alderman was saying--
"The first leap is yours, Master Dexter. See you set us a good lead."
I leapt, scarcely thinking what I did, and leapt badly; for though one by
one the others failed to reach it, Will Peake reached it, and lit in my
very footprints.
"A match again!" cried everyone, "and a close match, too!"
The gallant had made up to her again, and was tormenting her sweet ear

once more with his whispers. She stood rigid like a statue with her eyes
before her, showing only by the heaving of her bosom that she was
aware of his unwelcome presence.
"You keep us waiting, lad," cried the alderman. "Jump, unless you
mean to yield the victory to your adversary."
I jumped, listlessly again, and again alighted within an inch of my
former distance. And once again, Will Peake landed in my very hoof-
marks.
"A mortal match!" cried the crowd.
"One leap more," said the alderman, "and if that does not decide--"
He was there still, and, worse than before, had caught the little hand
that hung at her side in his. The colour had gone from her face. I saw
that she bit her lips, and for one moment her eyes looked up
appealingly and, so it seemed to me, met mine.
Then with my heart swelling big within me, I walked to the starting-
point, and ran for my last leap.
It was with all my might that I jumped now, and I cleared two good feet
beyond my former distance; so that the onlookers could scarcely shout
for amazement.
But I waited neither for their shouts nor for Will's jump, for I knew he
could not reach me. With beating heart, and fingers digging into the
palms of my hands, I walked straight to where she stood, pale and
trembling. Her right hand was still his prisoner, and his cursed lips
were still at her ear. But not for long.
Before he was aware, I had seized him with a grip which made him
howl; and next moment he was reeling and staggering a dozen yards
away in the midst of the enclosure. It all happened so quickly that even
she seemed scarcely to know of her deliverance, till she saw him draw
his sword and look round for me.

Then, to draw the combat away from her, I went on to meet him with
my club;