favor of the knight of the crimson sash, and when
the last course had been run, his backers were
jubilant. No one of those following him had displayed
anything like equal skill.

The herald now blew his bugle and declared the
tournament closed. The judges put their heads
together for a moment. The bugle sounded again,
and the herald announced in a loud voice that Sir
George Tryon, having taken the greatest number
of rings and split the largest number of balls, was
proclaimed victor in the tournament and entitled
to the flowery chaplet of victory.

Tryon, having bowed repeatedly in response to
the liberal applause, advanced to the judges' stand
and received the trophy from the hands of the chief
judge, who exhorted him to wear the garland worthily,
and to yield it only to a better man.

"It will be your privilege, Sir George,"
announced the judge, "as the chief reward of your
valor, to select from the assembled beauty of
Clarence the lady whom you wish to honor, to whom
we will all do homage as the Queen of Love and
Beauty."

Tryon took the wreath and bowed his thanks.
Then placing the trophy on the point of his lance,
he spoke earnestly for a moment to the herald, and