when the two horses closed with such a shock, that Sycamore, already
wavering in the saddle, was overthrown, and his armour crashed around him
as he fell.

The victor, seeing him lie without motion, alighted immediately and began
to unbuckle his helmet, in which office he was assisted by the trumpeter.
When the headpiece was removed, the hapless knight of the Griffin
appeared in the pale livery of death, though he was only in a swoon, from
which he soon recovered by the effect of the fresh air, and the aspersion
of cold water, brought from a small pool in the neighbourhood. When he
recognised his conqueror doing the offices of humanity about his person,
he closed his eyes from vexation, told Sir Launcelot that his was the
fortune of the day, though he himself owed his mischance to the fault of
his own horse; and observed, that this ridiculous affair would not have
happened, but for the mischievous instigation of that scoundrel Dawdle,
on whose ribs he threatened to revenge this mishap.

Perhaps Captain Crowe might have saved him the trouble, had the wag
honourably adhered to the institutions of chivalry, in his conflict with
our novice. But on this occasion, his ingenuity was more commendable
than his courage. He had provided at the inn a blown bladder, in which
several smooth pebbles were enclosed; and this he slyly fixed on the head
of his pole, when the captain obeyed the signal of battle. Instead of
bearing the brunt of the encounter, he turned out of the straight line,
so as to avoid the lance of his antagonist, and rattled his bladder with
such effect, that Crowe's horse, pricking up his ears, took to his heels,
and fled across some ploughed land with such precipitation, that the
rider was obliged to quit his spear, and lay fast hold on the mane, that
he might not be thrown out of the saddle. Dawdle, who was much better
mounted, seeing his condition, rode up to the unfortunate novice, and