Do you accept the contest ?' 'I shall do what I may,' I answered, 'though I can scarce hope to strike as heavy a blow as so old and tried a soldier.' 'Henker take your compliments,' he cried gruffly.

'It was with sweet words that you did coax my fingers into that fool-catcher of yours.

Now, here is my old headpiece of Spanish steel.

It has, as you can see, one or two dints of blows, and a fresh one will not hurt it.

I place it here upon this oaken stool high enough to be within fair sword-sweep.