But Geraint thanked him, and took the food to Enid. And to please him she ate a little, but Geraint was so hungry that he finished all the reapers’ dinner.
‘I will reward you,’ said Geraint, for the lad was dismayed to find nothing left for the reapers to eat. And he told him to take one of the horses, with the suit of armour bound round it.
Then the boy was full of glee, and thought himself a knight, as he led the horse away.
Geraint and Enid then went to the little village near the cornfields, and lodged there for one night.
The country they were in belonged to a cruel Earl. He had once wanted to marry Enid. When he heard that she was in his country, he made up his mind to kill Geraint, and make Enid marry him after all.
‘I will go to the inn while they are still asleep,’ thought the Earl, ‘and kill the knight and take Enid away.’
But Geraint and Enid had got up very early that morning, and had left the five horses and the five suits of armour with the landlord, to pay him for their food and shelter.
By the time the Earl reached the inn Geraint and Enid had ridden a long way into a wild country.
Then the wicked Earl galloped after them, and Enid heard the sound of horse’s hoofs coming nearer and nearer. As the horseman dashed down upon Geraint, Enid hid her face, and asked God to spare her dear lord’s life once more.
The fight was long and fierce, but at last Geraint overthrew the Earl, and left him lying half-dead in the dust.