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How Sir Richard of the Lea Paid His Debts
Meanwhiletheyoungstrangerhadmadehiswaythroughthecrowd,but,ashepassed,heheardallaroundhimsuchwordsmutteredas"Lookatthecockerel!""Beholdhowheplumethhimself!""IdareswearhecastgoodWilliamunfairly!""Yea,truly,sawyenotbirdlimeuponhishands?""Itwouldbewelltocuthiscock’scomb!"Toallthisthestrangerpaidnoheed,butstrodeproudlyaboutasthoughhehearditnot.Sohewalkedslowlyacrossthegreentowheretheboothstoodwhereinwasdancing,andstandingatthedoorhelookedinonthesport.Ashestoodthus,astonestruckhisarmofasuddenwithasharpjar,and,turning,hesawthatanangrycrowdofmenhadfollowedhimfromthewrestlingring.Then,whentheysawhimturnso,agreathootingandyellingarosefromall,sothatthefolkcamerunningoutfromthedancingboothtoseewhatwastodo.Atlastatall,broad-shouldered,burlyblacksmithstrodeforwardfromthecrowdswingingamightyblackthornclubinhishand.
"WouldstthoucomeheretoourfairtownofDenby,thouJackintheBox,toovercomeagoodhonestladwithvile,jugglingtricks?"growledheinadeepvoicelikethebellowofanangrybull."Takethat,then!"Andofasuddenhestruckablowattheyouththatmighthavefelledanox.Buttheotherturnedtheblowdeftlyaside,andgavebackanothersoterriblethattheDenbymanwentdownwithagroan,asthoughhehadbeensmittenbylightning.
