But we seemed to adopt the same resolution simultaneously; for each
caught up his favourite weapon, and, leaving his defence behind, sprang
to the door. I snatched up a long rapier, abruptly, but very finely
pointed, in my sword-hand, and in the other a sabre; the elder brother
seized his heavy battle-axe; and the younger, a great, two-handed sword,
which he wielded in one hand like a feather. We had just time to get
clear of the tower, embrace and say good-bye, and part to some little
distance, that we might not encumber each other's motions, ere the
triple giant-brotherhood drew near to attack us. They were about twice
our height, and armed to the teeth.
Through the visors of their helmets
their monstrous eyes shone with a horrible ferocity. I was in the middle
position, and the middle giant approached me. My eyes were busy with his
armour, and I was not a moment in settling my mode of attack. I saw that
his body-armour was somewhat clumsily made, and that the overlappings
in the lower part had more play than necessary; and I hoped that, in
a fortunate moment, some joint would open a little, in a visible and
accessible part. I stood till he came near enough to aim a blow at me
with the mace, which has been, in all ages, the favourite weapon of
giants, when, of course, I leaped aside, and let the blow fall upon the
spot where I had been standing. I expected this would strain the joints
of his armour yet more. Full of fury, he made at me again; but I kept
him busy, constantly eluding his blows, and hoping thus to fatigue him.
He did not seem to fear any assault from me, and I attempted none as
yet; but while I watched his motions in order to avoid his blows, I, at
the same time, kept equal watch upon those joints of his armour, through
some one of which I hoped to reach his life. At length, as if somewhat
fatigued, he paused a moment, and drew himself slightly up; I bounded
forward, foot and hand, ran my rapier right through to the armour of
his back, let go the hilt, and passing under his right arm, turned as
he fell, and flew at him with my sabre.
At one happy blow I divided the
band of his helmet, which fell off, and allowed me, with a second cut
across the eyes, to blind him quite; after which I clove his head, and
turned, uninjured, to see how my brothers had fared. Both the giants
were down, but so were my brothers. I flew first to the one and then
to the other couple. Both pairs of combatants were dead, and yet locked
together, as in the death-struggle. The elder had buried his battle-axe
in the body of his foe, and had fallen beneath him as he fell. The giant
had strangled him in his own death-agonies. The younger had nearly hewn
off the left leg of his enemy; and, grappled with in the act, had,
while they rolled together on the earth, found for his dagger a passage
betwixt the gorget and cuirass of the giant, and stabbed him mortally in
the throat. The blood from the giant's throat was yet pouring over the
hand of his foe, which still grasped the hilt of the dagger sheathed
in the wound. They lay silent. I, the least worthy, remained the sole
survivor in the lists.