Athelstane’s Challenge

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21180, 29 October 1938, Page 28 (Supplement)

Athelstane’s Challenge

“What mummery is this?” cried Cedric. “Do you think we are ignorant whose prisoners we are? Tell your master, Reginald Front-de-Boeuf, that we know no reason he can have for withholding our liberty, excepting his unlawful desire to enrich himself at our expense. Tell him that we are willing to pay ransom to him as to any other robber.” The sewer made no answer, but bowed his head. “And tell Sir Reginald Front-de-Boeuf,” said Athelstane, “that I send him my mortal defiance, and challenge him to combat with me, on foot or horseback, within eight days after our liberation.” “I shall deliver to the knight your defiance,” answered the sewer, and left the room with the other attendanls. Athelstane’s challenge was delivered with no good grace, for a large mouthful, which required both jaws at once, considerably damped the effect of the bold defiance it contained. Still, however, his speech was hailed by Cedric as an incontestable token of reviving spirit in his companion, and he cordially shook hands with him in token of his approbation, but was somewhat grieved when Athelstane observed that he would fight a dozen such men as Front-de-Boeuf, if by so doing he could hasten his departure from a dungeon where they put so much garlic into their pottage. Cedric, who at first had not wanted to eat, now yielded to the temptation of the table, and proved that the appetite of his Saxon ancestors had descended to him with their other qualities.