It seems a poor weapon indeed to match against a Toledo blade in the hands of one who could handle it well, and yet there are virtues in a cudgel, for when a man sees himself threatened with it, he is likely to forget that he holds in his hand a more deadly weapon, and to take to the guarding of his own head in place of running his adversary through the body.
And that was what chanced in this case, though how it came about exactly I cannot tell.

The Spaniard was a fine swordsman, and had I been armed as he was would doubtless have overmatched me, who at that age had no practice in the art, which was almost unknown in England.

But when he saw the big stick flourished over him he forgot his own advantage, and raised his arm to ward away the blow.

Down it came upon the back of his hand, and lo! his sword fell from it to the grass.

But I did not spare him because of that, for my blood was up.