tossed the clog he held in his hand back upon the cot.

"So be it," said Blunt, with great readiness, tossing down a similar
weapon which he himself held.

"Do not go, Myles," cried Gascoyne, "he is a villain and a traitor, and
would betray thee to thy death. I saw him when he first gat from bed
hide a knife in his doublet."

"Thou liest!" said Blunt. "I swear, by my faith, I be barehanded as ye
see me! Thy friend accuses me, Myles Falworth, because he knoweth thou
art afraid of me."

"There thou liest most vilely!" exclaimed Myles. "Swear that thou hast
no knife, and I will meet thee."

"Hast thou not heard me say that I have no knife?" said Blunt. "What
more wouldst thou have?"

"Then I will meet thee halfway," said Myles.

Gascoyne caught him by the sleeve, and would have withheld him, assuring
him that he had seen the bachelor conceal a knife. But Myles, hot for
the fight, broke away from his friend without listening to him.

As the two advanced steadily towards one another a breathless silence
fell upon the dormitory in sharp contrast to the uproar and confusion
that had filled it a moment before. The lads, standing some upon
benches, some upon beds, all watched with breathless interest the
meeting of the two champions.