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Thesavagetoneinwhichthiswaswhispered，perhapscompletedtheconfusionoftheMarquis’snerves，forhestumbledashemadetohorse；andthoughherecoveredhisfeet，sprungtothesaddlewithhisusualagility，anddisplayedhisaddressinhorsemanshipasheassumedhispositionoppositetothechallenger’s，yettheaccidentdidnotescapethosewhowereonthewatchforomens，whichmightpredictthefateoftheday。
Thepriests，afterasolemnprayerthatGodwouldshowtherightfulquarrel，departedfromthelists。Thetrumpetsofthechallengerthenrungaflourish，andaherald-at-armsproclaimedattheeasternendofthelists，-Herestandsagoodknight，SirKennethofScotland，championfortheroyalKingRichardofEngland，whoaccusethConrade，MarquisofMontserrat，offoultreasonanddishonourdonetothesaidKing。’’
WhenthewordsKennethofScotlandannouncedthenameandcharacterofthechampion，hithertoscarcegenerallyknown，aloudandcheerfulacclaimburstfromthefollowersofKingRichard，andhardly，notwithstandingrepeatedcommandsofsilence，sufferedthereplyofthedefendanttobeheard。He，ofcourse，avouchedhisinnocence，andofferedhisbodyforbattle。
Theesquiresofthecombatantsnowapproached，anddeliveredtoeachhisshieldandlance，assistingtohangtheformeraround。
hisneck，thathistwohandsmightremainfree，oneforthemanagementofthebridle，theothertodirectthelance。
TheshieldoftheScotdisplayedhisoldbearing，theleopard，butwiththeadditionofacollarandbrokenchain，inallusiontohislatecaptivity。TheshieldoftheMarquisbore，inreferencetohistitle，aserratedandrockymountain。Eachshookhislancealoft，asiftoascertaintheweightandtoughnessoftheunwieldyweapon，andthenlaiditintherest。Thesponsors，heralds，andsquires，nowretiredtothebarriers，andthecombatantssatoppositetoeachother，facetoface，withcouchedlanceandclosedvizor，thehumanformsocompletelyenclosed，thattheylookedmorelikestatuesofmolteniron，thanbeingsoffleshandblood。Thesilenceofsuspensewasnowgeneral-
menbreathedthicker，andtheirverysoulsseemedseatedintheireyes，whilenotasoundwastobeheardsavethesnortingandpawingofthegoodsteeds，who，sensibleofwhatwasabouttohappen，wereimpatienttodashintocareer。Theystoodthusforperhapsthreeminutes，when，atasignalgivenbytheSoldan，anhundredinstrumentsrenttheairwiththeirbrazenclamours，andeachchampionstrikinghishorsewiththespurs，andslackingtherein，thehorsesstartedintofullgallop，andtheknightsmetinmidspacewithashocklikeathunderbolt。Thevictorywasnotindoubt-no，notonemoment。Conrade，indeed，showedhimselfapractisedwarrior；forhestruckhisantagonistknightlyinthemidstofhisshield，bearinghislancesostraightandtrue，thatitshiveredintosplintersfromthesteelspear-headuptotheverygauntlet。ThehorseofSirKennethrecoiledtwoorthreeyardsandfellonhishaunches，buttheridereasilyraisedhimwithhandandrein。ButforConradetherewasnorecovery。
SirKenneth’slancehadpiercedthroughtheshield，throughaplatedcorseletofMilansteel，througha_secret，_orcoatoflinkedmail，wornbeneaththecorselet，hadwoundedhimdeepinthebosom，andbornehimfromhissaddle，leavingthetruncheonofthelancefixedinhiswound。Thesponsors，heralds，andSaladinhimself，descendingfromhisthrone，crowdedaroundthewoundedman；whileSirKenneth，whohaddrawnhisswordereyethediscoveredhisantagonistwastotallyhelpless，nowcommandedhimtoavowhisguilt。Thehelmetwashastilyunclosed，andthewoundedman，gazingwildlyonthesides，replied，-Whatwouldyoumore？-Godhathdecidedjustly-Iamguilty-butthereareworsetraitorsinthecampthanI-Inpitytomysoul，letmehaveaconfessor！’’
Herevivedasheutteredthesewords。
Thetalisman-thepowerfulremedy，royalbrother，’’saidKingRichardtoSaladin。
Thetraitor，’’answeredtheSoldan，ismorefittobedraggedfromtheliststothegallowsbytheheels，thantoprofitbyitsvirtues:-andsomesuchfateisinhislook，’’headded，aftergazingfixedlyuponthewoundedman；forthoughhiswoundmaybecured，yetAzrael’ssealisonthewretch’sbrow。’’
Nevertheless，’’saidRichard，Iprayyoudoforhimwhatyoumay，thathemayatleasthavetimeforconfession
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