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De Bracy was going to push down a huge stone detail of the castle, which could kill both Cedric and the knight, when he heard the voice of the Templar:

“All is lost, De Bracy, the castle burns. Listen to me, lead your men down, open the gate, there are only two men on the float, throw them into the moat, and attack the barbican. I will attack from the main gate, and come to the barbican from the outside. If we can win that post, I am sure we will defend ourselves until we are rescued. Hurry!”

De Bracy collected his men together, and ran down to the small gate. But the moment the gate was open, the Black Knight pushed inside in spite of De Bracy and his followers. Two of them fell and the rest gave way.

“Dogs!” said De Bracy, “will you let two men win our only pass for safety?”

“He is the devil!” said a veteran man-at-arms.

“Let me come forward!” replied De Bracy, “I will fight this champion myself.”

And on that day De Bracy well proved that he was worthy of his fame. The vaulted passage, in which he was fighting with the Black Knight hand to hand, rung with the furious blows which they gave and received, De Bracy with his sword, the Black Knight with his huge axe. After some time the Norman received such a blow, that he fell on the paved floor.

“Surrender, Maurice De Bracy,” said the Black Champion, “or you will die.”

“I will not surrender,” replied De Bracy, “to an unknown knight. Tell me your name, or kill me—it will never be said that Maurice de Bracy was prisoner to a nameless bandit.”

The Black Knight whispered something in his ear.

“I surrender to be a true prisoner,” answered the Norman.

“Go to the barbican,” said the victor, “and there wait for my further orders.”

“Yet first, let me tell you something important,” said De Bracy, “Wilfred of Ivanhoe is wounded and a prisoner, and will die in the burning castle without help.”

“Wilfred of Ivanhoe!” exclaimed the Black Knight. – ”Show me his chamber!”

“That stair leads to his apartment,” said De Bracy.

During this fight and brief conversation Cedric, the Friar and their friends attacked and drove back the despairing followers of De Bracy.

When Ivanhoe woke up, he noticed the smoke in the room.

“The castle burns,” said Rebecca; “it burns! – What can we do to save ourselves?”

“Run, Rebecca, and save your life,” said Ivanhoe, “you cannot help me.”

“I will not run,” answered Rebecca; “we will be saved or die together.”

At this moment the door of the apartment opened, and the Templar came in, – a ghastly figure, because his armour was broken and bloody, and the plume was partly cut away, partly burnt from his helmet. “I have found you,” said he to Rebecca; “There is only one way to safety, I have cut my way through fifty dangers to point it to you—up, and instantly follow me!”

“Go alone,” answered Rebecca, “I will not follow you. Save my aged father—save this wounded knight!”

“A knight,” answered the Templar, with his characteristic calmness, “a knight, Rebecca, must meet with his fate—and who cares about the Jew?”