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Updated: June 11, 2025


"Dog!" panted Beltane. "Ha! Cuthbert!" roared Red Pertolepe, writhing 'neath Beltane's grinding heel, "to me, Cuthbert to me!"

Forth sprang Ulf, swift and eager, but Walkyn, bounding up, shouldered him aside his axe whirled and fell once, and Sir Pertolepe's mace was dashed from his loosened hold whirled and fell again, and Sir Pertolepe's great casque was beaten from his head and all men might see the ghastly, jagged cross that scarred his brow beneath his fiery hair whirled again, but, ere it could fall, knights and esquires mounted and afoot, had burst 'twixt Walkyn and their reeling lord, and Walkyn was dashed aside, shouting, cursing, foaming with rage, what time Sir Pertolepe was borne out of the fight.

Strip me off his armour yet no, as he came, so shall he bide until my lord Duke be come. Bring now shackles, strong and heavy, bring fetters and rivets, so will I sit here and see him trussed." And presently came two armourers with hammers and rivets, and shackled Beltane with heavy chains, the while Sir Pertolepe, sitting near, laughed and spake him right jovially.

But now, an it be so thy will, take this my dagger and slay me here and now yet shall Red Pertolepe bear my mark upon him when I am dead." Awhile stood Beltane in frowning thought, then pointed to the green. "Go," said he, "the others wait thee!" So Walkyn, obeying, turned and plunged into the green, while Beltane followed after, slow and heavy-footed.

Also Sir Pertolepe said: I pray you that at this feast I may be your chamberlain. With a good will, said Sir Gareth sith it liketh you to take so simple an office. Then came in the Red Knight, with three score knights with him, and did to Sir Gareth homage and fealty, and all those knights to hold of him for evermore.

Anon Beltane sounded again, whereat they, beholding him, came thronging about him and questioned him eagerly on all sides, as thus: "Master, are we attacked forsooth?" "Is the Red Pertolepe upon us?" "Lord, what shall we do ?" "Lead us, master lead us!" Then, looking upon their wild disorder, Beltane laughed for scorn: "Rats!" quoth he, "O rats is it thus ye throng to the slaughter, then?

"Ha!" quoth Sir Hacon, "and what of Red Pertolepe? Truly our case is desperate methinks, old comrade!" "Why, 'tis not the first time we have out-faced desperate odds, Hacon!"

"Why, then eat," said Beltane. Now while they set about building a fire, Beltane went aside and wandering slow and thoughtful, presently came to a broad glade or ride, and stretching himself out 'neath a tree, lay there staring up at the leafy canopy, pondering upon Sir Pertolepe his sins, and the marvellous ways of God.

Now while all men stared upon this direful thing, holding their breaths, Walkyn laughed loud and high, and breaking from Ulf's clasp, staggered to where it lay and pointed thereto with shaking finger. "Behold!" he cried, "behold the head of Bloody Pertolepe!"

Then spake Beltane, grim-lipped yet soft of voice: "Lord Pertolepe, fain would I hang thee as thou hast hanged many a man ere now but this, methinks, is a better way: for here, unless some wanderer chance to find thee, must thou perish, an so God will it. Thus do we leave thee in the hands of God to grant thee life or death: and may he have mercy on thy guilty soul!"

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