ON THE ROAD TO THE TOURNAMENT.
Tristram now rode far alone through a country strange to him, and void of knightly adventures. At length, however, chance brought to him a damsel, who told him disconsolately that she sought a champion to cope with a villanous knight, who was playing the tyrant over a wide district, and who defied all errant knights.
"If you would win great honor come with me," she said.
"To win honor is the breath of my life," said Tristram. "Lead on, fair maiden."
Then he rode with her a matter of six miles, when good fortune brought them in contact with Sir Gawaine, who recognized the damsel as one of Morgan le Fay's. On seeing her with an unknown knight he at once surmised that there was some mischief afoot.
"Fair sir," said Gawaine, "whither ride you with that damsel?"
"Whither she may lead me," said Tristram. "That is all I know of the matter."
"Then, by my good blade, you shall ride no farther with her, for she has a breeder of ill for mistress, and means you a mischief."
He drew his sword as he spoke, and said in stern accents to the damsel,—
"Tell me wherefore and whither you lead this knight, or you shall die on the spot. I know you, minx, and the false-hearted witch who sends you."