The Salamanca Corpus: Yeoman Fleetwood (1900 ... - Gredos

The Salamanca Corpus: Yeoman Fleetwood (1900)
flapping and fluttering as he rolled them high on his arms. Edward glanced at him with
a thrill of something between admiration and fear, “You will not beat me," Simon had
said — in his heart of hearts he felt it to be more than likely that the prophecy would
prove true. When presently the battle began, though the two men fought with equal
science, Gifford soon realised that he had met more than his match. Simon, strong,
perhaps, in the justice of his cause, fought with a dogged determination which carried
all before it. The blows
[153]
which his cousin occasionally succeeded in planting seemed to affect him no more than
if they had been so many hailstones; and gradually these grew feebler and wilder,
Edward feeling like a man in a nightmare. His brain began to reel, he was conscious of a
mocking note in the screaming of the wind; the trees that writhed in the blast seemed to
stretch out menacing arms, the very hedge, of which he got a glimpse behind the rick,
seemed to be rushing towards him; then he saw Simon's face avenging, triumphant —
there was a crash, a shock, and all was dark.
A short period of unconsciousness ensued, and when he came to himself it was to find
his head supported on his adversary's knee, and Simon assiduously bathing his face. So
bruised and sore was Edward, so much exhausted, so crushed and humiliated by the
sense of defeat, that for a time he lay passive under these ministrations, though, as a
matter of fact, Simon's good offices were to him harder to endure than the blows which
had gone before. But by-and-bye, rallying himself, he pushed away the hand which
sought to heal the bruises it had caused, and struggled into a sitting posture. Simon, still
kneeling on one knee beside him, looked at him with a quiet smile.
"You have had enough, I think. Come, Cousin, own that you are beaten, and in honour
bound to relinquish all pretentions to Miss Charnock's hand. Tush, man! 'tis no disgrace
to be beaten in fair fight and to give in honestly. Make the best of it. Now if you will
take the advice of a reasonable man you will make away with all speed from this place
before folks are beginning to stir about. If I were you I should not show myself at the
Hall just now."