Baron Henry gnashed his teeth with rage as he glared around upon
the faces of his men-at-arms. Suddenly his eye lit upon one of
them. "Ha ! Carl Spigler," he cried, "thou hast thy cross-bow
with thee; - shoot me down yonder dog! Nay," he said, "thou
canst do him no harm under his armor; shoot the horse upon which
he sits."

Baron Conrad heard the speech. "Oh! thou coward villain !" he
cried, "stay; do not shoot the good horse. I will dismount and
fight ye upon foot." Thereupon, armed as he was, he leaped
clashing from his horse and turning the animal's head, gave it a
slap upon the flank. The good horse first trotted and then
walked to the further end of the bridge, where it stopped and
began cropping at the grass that grew beside the road.

"Now then !" cried Baron Henry, fiercely, "now then, ye cannot
fear him, villains! Down with him! forward!"

Slowly the troopers spurred their horses forward upon the bridge
and toward that one figure that, grasping tightly the great two-
handed sword, stood there alone guarding the passage.

Then Baron Conrad whirled the great blade above his head, until
it caught the sunlight and flashed again. He did not wait for
the attack, but when the first of the advancing horsemen had
come within a few feet of him, he leaped with a shout upon them.
The fellow thrust at him with his lance, and the Baron went
staggering a few feet back, but instantly he recovered himself
and again leaped forward. The great sword flashed in the air,