40 A KNIGHT IN ARMOR.

 

graced the scene with their presence.
first day was given up to encounters be-
tween single Knights. The victor in each
case was given the horse, saddle and bridle
of his foe, the one winning the greatest
number of contests being declared the
leader of one side in the general encounter
and being allowed to name the Queen of
Love and Beauty who bestowed the Chap-
let of Honor on the final victor, and the
next in rank leading the other. Before the
tournament began, the herald proclaimed
the rules; sword, lance, battle-ax or mace
could be used, but the dagger could not.
If one knight unhorsed another, he could
continue the fight with that one only by
dismounting. One unhorsed knight could
only attack another similarly situated. A
knight driven to the end of the lists or
field must

knight violating any of the rules of the

retire as vanquished. Any

tournament was disgraced. As in the first
day, each victorious knight was entitled to
the horse of his defeated foe.

When all was ready, the two forces, num-
bering sometimes an hundred men, drew
At a blast from the
trumpet they dashed forward at full speed,

up in opposite line.

the object being to make the horses collide
at full speed. Then the conflict raged.
The fierce cries of the men, mingled with
the blows of battle-ax, the clanging of
swords and the crash of crossing spears,
was dreadful to behold, while men and

The

 

horses went down and rolled in the dust.
Knights on foot engaged in hand to hand

contests. As the numbers dwindled away,

opportunities for feats of superb horseman-
ship, and skillful trials of lance and sword
presented themselves, and were improved

to the utmost. Finally the contest nar-

rowed down to the two leaders and then
began a scene which beggars description.
They fought as only brave men can fight,
until by lucky stroke or superior skill but
one remained.

Then the shouts of the multitude broke

loose. The victor rode slowly before the

assembled throng and stopped before the
Queen of Beauty to receive the victor’s
crown. Fierce as were these tournaments,
they were less bloody than would be im-
agined. As many fell from the great
weight of their armors as by the skill of
their opposers. Then came trials of
strength and skill by the yeomanry, after
which a great banquet by the nobles con-
cluded the tournament.

With the invention of gunpowder and
the use of guns, armor began to disappear.
Its weight impeded the wearers and pre-
vented rapid movements, while it was not
proof against bullets. It serves to-day only
as a reminder of the past, when men
through mistaken notions of courage, faced
death rather than be thought lacking in
bravery and chivalry.”

“Splendid,” said every boy as papa fin-
ished his story. Three cheers with a prom-
ise of another equally as good when we
come again,