battleground; then a heavy blow struck him on the temple, and, still
holding the flags, he rolled senseless to the foot of the heap. The
defenders with shouts of triumph were rushing down when the prince urged
his horse forward.

"Cease!" he said authoritatively. "Enough has been done, my young masters,
and the sport is becoming a broil."

Hitherto the lads, absorbed in their strife, had paid but little heed to
the party of onlookers; but at the word they at once arrested their arms,
and, baring their heads, stood still in confusion.

"No harm is done," the prince said, "though your sport is of the roughest;
but I fear that your leader is hurt, he moves not; lift his head from the
ground." The boy was indeed still insensible. "My lords," the prince said
to the knights who had now ridden up, "I fear that this boy is badly hurt;
he is a gallant lad, and has the spirit of a true knight in him, citizen's
son though he be. My Lord de Vaux, will you bid your squire ride at full
speed to the Tower and tell Master Roger, the leech, to come here with all
haste, and to bring such nostrums as may be needful for restoring the boy
to life."

The Tower was but half a mile distant, but before Master Roger arrived
Walter had already recovered consciousness, and was just sitting up when
the leech hurried up to the spot.

"You have arrived too late, Master Roger," the prince said; "but I doubt
not that a dose of cordials may yet be of use, for he is still dazed, and
the blow he got would have cracked his skull had it been a thin one."