Sir Ludar | Page 5

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; and before his first onset was done, his sword flew over his head in two pieces. It was an old trick, and cost nothing to a 'prentice outside Temple Bar. And while he looked round, bewildered, after his weapon, I took him by the nape of his neck and the cloth of his breeches, and walked with him to the pond hard by, where I left him, and so was well rid of him.
By this time the Fields were in an uproar. So intent had all been on the leaping, to see