Over went the black knight and lay still on the ground.
The two sisters gave a shout of triumph.
“One!” cried Rose, just like the Count of Monte Christo in the play.
And then, to their amazement, the red knight turned his horse and rode away at full speed.
“Something’s wrong,” declared Ruth. “What does he act like that for?”
She looked to Guinevere to explain, but the young Princess shook her head sadly.
In the meanwhile the other two knights had run to see whether their comrade were yet alive. But he lay dead, with the red knight’s spear head in his throat.
Then the big knight took Guinevere, while the second knight swung both Rose and Ruth to the saddle of the dead knight’s horse, and once more they set off in a wild gallop.
Presently the way was again barred by a knight in red, and this time he too killed the knight who fought him, and then made off at top speed. Now only the big black knight remained. Grimly he put the three girls on the two free horses, driving them before him through the forest.
The shadows were growing long now, for the sun was climbing down the western slope of the sky. The three girls rode silently, watching eagerly to see if a new champion would not come to meet them. Soon indeed one came crashing through the trees, and silently opposed the big knight.