"'By my faith, Sir Knight,' said the Count Rudolf of Haggenhausen, an old warrior whose seamed countenance was the record of many a fight--'By my faith, I deemed not we could carry back such glorious tidings to our lady--nor, by Saint Wladimir, so goodly a pledge!' "'May I never put lance in rest again,' cried Conrad of the Thirty Mountains, 'but the Margravine hath a good eye--there be thews and sinews there! But we must take order with yon infidel scum. How say you, sirs--shall this cavalier have the ordering of the battle? I, for one, will gladly fight beneath his banner----' "'And so say I,' said Chopinski, 'but he must not go thus. Yonder, on my sumpter-mule, is a suit of Milan armour, which a king might wear upon the day he went forth to do battle for his crown. Bring it forth, knaves, and let the Mandeville be clad as becomes the affianced of our mistress.' "'Brave Chopinski,' I said, 'and you, kind sirs and nobles--pardon me if I cannot thank you now in a manner befitting to the greatness of your deserts. But there is a good time, I trust, in store. Suffer me now to arm myself, and then we shall try the boasted prowess of yonder giant of Kalbs-Braten!' "In a few moments I was sheathed in steel, and, mounted on a splendid charger, took my station at the head of the troops. Again their applause was redoubled. "'Lord Conrad,' said I to the warrior of the Thirty Mountains, 'swart Slavata has gone up yonder with a plump of lances, intending to cross the morass, and assail us on the rear. Be it thine to hold him in check.' "'By my father's head!' cried Conrad, 'I ask no better service! That villain Slavata oweth me a life, for he slew my sister's son at disadvantage, and this day will I have it or die. Fear not for the rear, noble Mandeville--I will protect it while spear remains or armour holds together!' "'I doubt it not, valiant Conrad! Brave Chopinski--noble Haggenhausen--let us now charge together! 'Tis not beneath my banner you fight. The Blue Boar of Mandeville never yet fluttered in the Wallachian breeze, but we may give it to the winds ere long! Sacred to Amalia, and not to me, be the victory! Advance the Red Falcon of Kalbs-Kuchen--let it strike terror into the hearts of the enemy--and forward as it pounces upon its prey!' "With visors down and lances in rest we rushed upon the advancing Hulans, who received our charge with great intrepidity. Martinitz was my immediate opponent. The shock of our meeting was so great that both the horses recoiled upon their hams, and, but for the dexterity of the riders, must have rolled over upon the ground. The lances were shivered up to the very gauntlets. We glared on each other for an instant with eyes which seemed to flash fire through the bars of our visors--each made a demivolte----"