At last Sir Roland saw one of the knights come limping down the path to the castle, and he went out on the bridge to meet him. Now this knight was not a brave one, and he had been frightened away as soon as he was wounded.
"I have been hurt," he said, "so that I can not fight any more. But I could watch the gate for you, if you would like to go back in my place."
At first Sir Roland's heart leaped with joy at this, but then he remembered what the commander had told him on going away, and he said:
"I should like to go, but a knight belongs where his commander has put him. My place is here at the gate, and I can not open it even for you. Your place is at the battle."
The knight was ashamed when he heard this, and he presently turned about and went into the forest again.
So Sir Roland kept guard silently for another hour. Then there came an old beggar woman down the path to the castle and asked Sir Roland if she might come in and have some food. He told her that no one could enter the castle that day, but that he would send a servant out to her with food, and that she might sit and rest as long as she would.
"I have been past the hollow in the forest where the battle is going on," said the old woman, while she was waiting for her food.
"And how do you think it is going?" asked Sir Roland.
"Badly for the knights, I am afraid," said the old woman. "The giants are fighting as they have never fought before. I should think you had better go and help your friends."
"I should like to, indeed," said Sir Roland. "But I am set to guard the gateway of the castle and can not leave."