On they came, creeping step by step, as though expecting I might rush upon them, until they were within three yards of me, and there they stopped. Then he whose knee I had such painful knowledge of made shift to speak. "Hearken!" said he. "Wilt yield, or must we kill thee?" "That is a question easy of the answering," said I. "Kill me if you can; but as for yielding--go to, now, act like men, not craven cowards. Fight, I say!" I took a threatening step towards them, and they fell back hurriedly. "Not so," quoth he, and verily methought I saw him quake with fear. "You have outwitted us, I own it freely. That being so it seems to me ’twere fair to strike a bargain. Thus, we will leave you here in peace and go our way." "A very pretty plan," I answered mockingly; "but one which scarce commends itself to my desire. Listen! you go not from this place alive if I can help it." That settled it. They drew together whispering for a moment, then came upon me with a desperate rush. *CHAPTER XV* *Tells How I Fleshed My Sword* A moment later and the clash of steel rose merrily above the thunder of the waves; and with each movement of my sword the eager blood rushed faster through my veins and gave new zest to life. In short, I revelled in the business, and thought no more of lurking death than you do when you breathe. I had learned swordsmanship beneath my father’s trained and watchful eye; the blade I wielded was his gift to me; my foes were Ferguson’s own hirelings. What more could any man require to give him skill and courage? I needed nothing else at any rate; and so, with tight-set lips and watchful eye, I fought beneath the moon. As for my adversaries, notwithstanding that they had been made to fight against their will, and thus lacked spirit, they yet soon proved themselves to be no paltry swordsmen; indeed, they showed such knowledge of the game that I was more than once hard put to it to save myself from thrust or cut. But, verily, my length of reach exceeded theirs by many inches--moreover, zeal and hatred count for much--and so it was not long before I sent one of them (he who had tried to bind me) reeling with a sword-thrust in the heart. His death-cry echoed loud above us in the cliffs, then down he crashed, a harmless heap, upon the shingle. At that the other leapt back panting, and stared at me with fearful, terror-stricken eyes. "Enough!" gasped he. "I yield!" "Down with your sword, then," I answered sternly. He cast his weapon to the ground, and, turning, would have fled; but in a moment I had darted after him and seized him by the neck. "Hold! not so fast!" I said, shaking him till his teeth clicked. "To save your miserable life is one thing, to spread tidings is another." "I swear to spread no tidings," came his chattering answer.