The turf was as elastic to the foot as a firm mattress.

In the trees, birds were singing with liveliness; in the distance, horned cattle browsed, and a pair of horses stood gazing at the combatants, startled, no doubt, by this invasion of their pasturage.
From the distance came the faint, mellow booming of church-bells.
The two men fighting had almost the air of gladiators.

Their coats were off, and the white linen of their shirts looked gracious; while the upraised left hand of the fighters balancing the sword-thrust and the weight of the body had an almost singular beauty.

Of the two, Dyck was the more graceful, the steadier, the quicker in his motions.
Vigilant Dyck was, but not reckless.

He had made the first attack, on the ground that the aggressor gains by boldness, if that boldness is joined to skill; and Dyck's skill was of the best.