Meanwhile the young stranger had made his way through the crowd, but, as
he passed, he heard all around him such words muttered as "Look at the
cockerel!" "Behold how he plumeth himself!" "I dare swear he cast good
William unfairly!" "Yea, truly, saw ye not birdlime upon his hands?"
"It would be well to cut his cock's comb!" To all this the stranger
paid no heed, but strode proudly about as though he heard it not. So he
walked slowly across the green to where the booth stood wherein was
dancing, and standing at the door he looked in on the sport. As he stood
thus, a stone struck his arm of a sudden with a sharp jar, and, turning,
he saw that an angry crowd of men had followed him from the wrestling
ring. Then, when they saw him turn so, a great hooting and yelling
arose from all, so that the folk came running out from the dancing booth
to see what was to do. At last a tall, broad-shouldered, burly
blacksmith strode forward from the crowd swinging a mighty blackthorn
club in his hand.
"Wouldst thou come here to our fair town of Denby, thou Jack in the Box,
to overcome a good honest lad with vile, juggling tricks?" growled he in
a deep voice like the bellow of an angry bull.
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