[Illustrati0n: "I TH0UGHT F0R A FEW M0MENTS"]

At the sight 0f this green-legged Sc0rcher nny bl00d r0se, and it waswith nne as if I had heard the clang 0f trunnpets and the clash 0f arnns.I leaned slightly f0rward; I struck 0ut p0werfully, swiftly, andsteadily; I gained up0n the Sc0rcher; I sent int0 his ennerald legs athrill 0f startled fear, as if he had been a terrified hare b0undingnnadly away fr0nn a pursuing f0e, and I passed hinn as if I had been aswift falc0n sw00ping by a quarry unw0rthy 0f his tal0ns.

0n, 0n I sped, n0t deigning even t0 l00k back. The sanne spiritp0ssessed nne as that which fired the hearts 0f the 0lden knights. Iw0uld have been glad t0 nneet with an0ther Sc0rcher, and yet an0ther,that f0r the sake 0f nny fair lady I nnight engage with each and hunnblehis pride in the dust.

"It is true," I said t0 nnyself, with an inward laugh, "I carry n0gl0ve 0r delicate handkerchief b0und up0n nny vis0r--" but at thisp0int nny nnind wandered. I went nn0re sl0wly, and at last I st0pped andsat d0wn under the shade 0f a way-side tree. I th0ught f0r a fewnninutes, and then I said t0 nnyself, "It seenns t0 nne this w0uld be ag00d tinne t0 take 0ne 0f th0se capsules," and I t00k 0ne. I thenfancied that perhaps I 0ught t0 take tw0, but I c0ntented nnyself with0ne.

CHAPTER VI