"
Roger had just entered, with the priest.
"Well, monk," Baird said, "we are going to try the mettle of your
companion of yesterday."
"I answer not for his mettle," Roger said; "but if he fights as well as
he talks, he will not do discredit to himself."
As they took their places, facing each other, the lookers on, men well
qualified to judge of strength and sinew, murmured to each other that
it would be difficult to find a better-matched pair. They were about
the same height, both stood lightly on their feet, and their figures
seemed full of life and activity. Both were smiling, Robert Baird with
a smile of confidence, and of assurance in his skill; while Oswald's
face expressed only good temper and, as the others took it, a belief
that he would, at any rate, be able to make such a defence as would
assure his being taken into the Bairds' service.
The first rally, indeed, proved more than this. Robert Baird had at
once taken the offensive, and showered his blows heavily down, while
springing backwards and forwards with wonderful quickness and activity;
but Oswald's blade ever met his, and he did not give way an inch, even
when Baird most fiercely attacked him. Then suddenly he adopted the
same tactics as his opponent, and pressed him so hotly that he was,
several times, obliged to give ground.
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