I am here to redeem it." "Give up that banner to a follower, then," returned Sir Henry, courteously, checking his horse in its full career, "for otherwise we meet at odds.

Thou canst not redeem thy gage, and defend thy charge at the same moment." "Give up my charge! Never, so help me heaven! Friend or foe shall claim it but with my life," returned Alan, proudly.

"Come on, sir knight; I am here to defend the honor thou hast injured--the honor of one dearer than my own." "Have then thy will, proud boy: thy blood be on thine own head," replied Seymour; but ere he spurred on to the charge, he called aloud, "let none come between us, none dare to interfere--'tis a quarrel touching none save ourselves," and Alan bowed his head, in courteous recognition of the strict observance of the rules of chivalry in his adversary, at the very moment that he closed with him in deadly strife; and such was war in the age of chivalry, and so strict were its rules, that even with the standard of Scotland in his hand, the person of the heir of Buchan was sacred to all save to his particular opponent.
It was a brief yet determined struggle.

Their swords crossed and recrossed with such force and rapidity, that sparks of fire flashed from the blades; the aim of both appeared rather to unhorse and disarm than slay: Seymour, perhaps, from admiration of the boy's extraordinary bravery and daring, and Alan from a feeling of respect for the true chivalry of the English knight.

The rush of battle for a minute unavoidably separated them.