"By our faith," cried Gawaine, Bleoberis, and Kay, "we can testify to that, for he left us all on the ground."
"Aha! who could this strong fellow have been?" asked Arthur. "Did any of you know him?"
They all declared that he was a stranger to them, though Tristram kept silent.
"If you know not, I do; it was Lancelot or none," cried the king.
"In faith, I fancy so," said Tristram, "for I found him to-day, and we had a four hours' fight together, before each found out the other."
"So," they all cried, "it is he who has beguiled us with his covered shield!"
"You say truly," answered Lancelot, with a smile. "And I called myself an enemy of King Arthur so that none should suspect me. I was in search of sport."
"That is an old trick of yours," said Arthur.
"One must go in disguise in these days, or go untried," laughed Lancelot.
Then Queen Guenever, and many ladies of the court, learning that Tristram was there, came and bade him welcome, ladies and knights together crying, "Welcome, Sir Tristram! welcome to Camelot!"