At this moment Theobaldo’s bow sounded with a loud reverberation; and Otto, confused and disturbed in his discourse, looked round, till he saw the noble bird descending rapidly, vainly fluttering to support himself, with an arrow through one of his wings, over that side of the wood to which he had directed his flight when he left them. “Who commanded thee to injure the bird which I loved so dearly?” said the young knight, with his eyes darkly flashing. “I knew not surely that it was your falcon,” said Theobaldo; “and if, according to your own words, you love all such creatures, you should rejoice that the arrow which I have now shot has rescued some poor timid songster, which had concealed itself in the thickets of the forest.” “Thou art not appointed to be a judge in the wide realms of the eagle,” said Otto, discontentedly. “It may be so,” said Theobaldo; “nor, methinks, art thou more than any other mortal privileged to be a hunter therein.” In this dispute, however, the young men were soon disturbed by the presence of a third party. CHAPTER XVIII. How Sir Otto met again with the Knight of Montfaucon. Mounted on a fine silver-grey horse, in a magnificent hunter’s dress, with a bugle-horn at his side, a young man of handsome features and graceful demeanour made his appearance before them. At the same moment, when Otto saw the bleeding falcon supported on the breast of the stranger, the latter observed the cross-bow in the hands of Theobaldo, and considering him as but a squire, he turned an angry glance on the knight, saying,--“If it pleases you, sir, to allow your attendants to hunt in my forests, you indeed impute to me no more hospitality and civility towards strangers, that I am willing to shew. But, nevertheless, I must earnestly request, that, for the future, you will content yourself with humbler game, and spare so noble a bird as this which your squire has now wounded.” Thereupon he tenderly stroked the head and back of the poor stricken falcon, with many kind and caressing words, and without attending to Sir Otto’s apologies, which, in truth, were but confusedly delivered; for he was himself greatly irritated by Theobaldo’s strange conduct. The latter, however, had now become more obstinate than ever. He went up with a look of defiance to the stranger sportsman, and said,--“It was I alone, without being commanded, or receiving permission from any one, who took aim at your falcon; and I only, therefore, am to be spoken with on that matter.” “Stand back, Theobaldo,” said Sir Otto; “thou seem’st not aware of the guilt thou hast brought on thine own shoulders, in thus having infringed the laws of hunting and of knighthood, by taking aim at a prey so noble.” “Nay, I know it all full well,” answered Theobaldo. “You princes and knights have divided this world into special portions for your own private advantage; and as to the rights freely bestowed by Providence on other