"Come with me, then," said Kay. "Adventures are not so abundant, and we two should be able to match the wiles of this dastard king."
"I shall not fail you," said Gaheris.
Into the forest they then rode till they came to the edge of a little lake, known as the Perilous Lake, and here they waited under the woodland shadows.
It was now night, but the moon rode high in the skies, and flung its silvery rays wide over the forest glade. As they stood thus, there rode into the moonlit opening a knight all in black armor and on a great black horse, who tilted against Sir Kay. The seneschal's horse was smaller than that of the stranger, and was overthrown by the shock, falling upon its rider, whom it bruised severely.
During this encounter Gaheris had remained hidden under the woodland shadows. He now cried sternly,—
"Knight, sit thou fast in thy saddle, for I will revenge my fellow;" and rode against the black knight with such fury that he was flung from his horse. Then he turned to a companion of the black knight, who now appeared, and hurled him to the earth so violently that he came near to breaking his neck in the fall.
Leaping from his horse and helping Kay to his feet, Gaheris sternly bade his antagonists to tell their names or they should die.
"Beware what you do," said the second knight. "This is King Mark of Cornwall, and I am his cousin Andred."
"You are traitors both," cried Gaheris, in a fury, "and have laid this ambush for us. It were a pity to let such craven rascals live."
"Spare my life," prayed the king, "and I will make full amends."