Once，astheylayinhidinginadensewoodbesidealittleopengladeacrosswhichtheroadwound，theboysawtwoknightsenterthegladefromeitherside。Foramoment，theydrewreinandeyedeachotherinsilence，andthenone，agreatblackmailedknightuponablackcharger，criedoutsomethingtotheotherwhichtheboycouldnotcatch。Theotherknightmadenoresponseotherthantoresthislanceuponhisthighandwithloweredpoint，ridetowardhisebonadversary。Foradozenpacestheirgreatsteedstrottedslowlytowardoneanother，butpresentlytheknightsurgedthemintofullgallop，andwhenthetwoironmenontheirirontrappedchargerscametogetherinthecenteroftheglade，itwaswithalltheterrificimpactoffullcharge。
Thelanceoftheblackknightsmotefulluponthelindenshieldofhisfoeman，thestaggeringweightofthemightyblackchargerhurtleduponthegray，whowentdownwithhisriderintothedustofthehighway。Themomentumoftheblackcarriedhimfiftypacesbeyondthefallenhorsemanbeforehisridercouldreinhimin，thentheblackknightturnedtoviewthehavochehadwrought。Thegrayhorsewasjuststaggeringdizzilytohisfeet，buthismailedriderlayquietandstillwherehehadfallen。
Withraisedvisor，theblackknightrodebacktothesideofhisvanquishedfoe。Therewasacruelsmileuponhislipsasheleanedtowardtheprostrateform。Hespoketauntingly，buttherewasnoresponse，thenheproddedthefallenmanwiththepointofhisspear。Eventhiselicitednomovement。Withashrugofhisironcladshoulders，theblackknightwheeledandrodeondowntheroaduntilhehaddisappearedfromsightwithinthegloomyshadowsoftheencirclingforest。
Thelittleboywasspell-bound。Naughtlikethishadheeverseenordreamed。
\"Somedaythoushaltgoanddolikewise，myson，\"saidthelittleoldwoman。