Just at that moment two shots were fired from the ditch and the bullets whizzed close by the poor captain.

We called to him to save his life, but he did not stir, and shouted that they were cowards and assassins, like their king.
"Meantime it had grown tolerably light--we heard them calling to and fro from the ditch, and just as Allertssohn was turning away, an officer sprang into the meadow, exclaiming: 'Stand, braggart, and draw your blade.' "The captain drew his Brescian sword, bowed to his enemy as if he were in the fencing-school, bent the steel and closed with the Castilian.

The latter was a thin man of stately figure and aristocratic bearing, and as it soon appeared, a dangerous foe.

He circled like a whirlwind, round the captain with bounds, thrusts and feints, but Allertssohn maintained his composure, and at first confined himself to skilful parrying.

Then he dealt a magnificent quarte, and when the other parried it, followed with the tierce, and this being warded off, gave with the speed of lightning a side-thrust such as only he can deal.