"Here then is mine," offered the third knave.

Yet, forsooth, the club was but a sorry one and so the unknown would
not use it.

"Then show you a coward's heart," replied he who would strive with
him. And then the three rushed upon the stranger and would do him
hurt.

So now came bearing down on the three none other than Allan who had
overheard the parley.

"For shame, knaves. No true men would treat stranger so. He asks
nothing more than is fair. Give him a club of his choosing."

"Of a faith, young master, this quarrel is none of yours, and warrants
no interference. Leave this fellow to us, and we shall give him
clubbing of his choosing." And the man who addressed the boy, though
he looked not straight at him, growled surlily.

"I shall give you a thrashing, fool, unless you do my bidding,"
replied the boy, hotly.

But the three surly brutes moved uneasily. And then came Sir Percival
forward.

"What have we here?" he asked.

So Allan waited for the men to say. But they, now frightened, made no
spoken word.