Many miles farther had he gone when he found himself near a roadside castle, from whose walls there came to his ears dismal lamentations in ladies' voices. While he stood wondering at this there came by a page.
"What noise is that within the castle?" asked Gareth.
"Sir knight," answered the page, "within this castle there are thirty ladies, all widows, for their husbands have been slain by the lord of the castle, who is called the brown knight without pity, and there is no more perilous knight now living. Therefore," continued the page, "I bid you flee."
"You may be afraid of him," said Gareth; "but I shall not flee for that."
Then the page saw the brown knight coming.
"Lo! yonder he cometh," he said.
"Let me deal with him," said Gareth.
When the brown knight saw a champion in the road, with spear in rest, awaiting him, he prepared quickly for the combat, and spurring his strong war-horse, rode furiously upon Gareth, breaking his spear in the middle of his shield. But Gareth struck him a fatal blow in return, for his spear went through his body, so that he fell to the ground stark dead.
Then the victor rode into the castle, and prayed the ladies that he might find repose there for the night.
"Alas!" they cried, "that cannot be."