k lodging; and was there grass, oats and bread for their horses;
soon it was sped, and full hard was their supper; but there they rested
them all night till on the morn, and heard a mass devoutly, and took
their leave of the hermit, and Sir Tor prayed the hermit to pray for
him. He said he would, and betook him to God. And so mounted upon
horseback and rode towards Camelot a long while.

With that they heard a knight call loud that came after them, and he
said, Knight, abide and yield my brachet that thou took from my lady.
Sir Tor returned again, and beheld him how he was a seemly knight and
well horsed, and well armed at all points; then Sir Tor dressed his
shield, and took his spear in his hands, and the other came fiercely
upon him, and smote both horse and man to the earth. Anon they arose
lightly and drew their swords as eagerly as lions, and put their shields
afore them, and smote through the shields, that the cantels fell off
both parties. Also they tamed their helms that the hot blood ran out,
and the thick mails of their hauberks they carved and rove in sunder
that the hot blood ran to the earth, and both they had many wounds and
were passing weary. But Sir Tor espied that the other knight fainted,
and then he sued fast upon him, and doubled his strokes, and gart him go
to the earth on the one side. Then Sir Tor bade him yield him. That will
I not, said Abelleus, while my life lasteth and the soul is within my
body, unless that thou wilt give me the brachet. That will I not do,
said Sir Tor, for it was my quest to bring again thy brachet, thee, or
both.

CHAPTER XI. How Sir Tor overcame the knight, and how he lost his head at
the request of a lady.

WITH that came a damosel riding on a palfrey as fast as she might drive,
and cried with a loud voice unto Sir Tor. What will ye with me? said Sir
Tor. I beseech thee, said the damosel, for King Arthur's love, give me a
gift; I require thee, gentle knight, as thou art a gentleman. Now, said
Tor, ask a gift and I will give it you. Gramercy, said the damosel;
now I ask the head of the false knight Abelleus, for he is the most
outrageous knight that liveth, and the greatest murderer. I am loath,
said Sir Tor, of that gift I have given you; let him make amends in that
he hath trespassed unto you. Now, said the damosel, he may not, for he
slew mine own brother before mine own eyes, that was a better knight
than he, an he had had grace; and I kneeled half an hour af