nt to King Mark of
Cornwall to demand seven years' truage that was due to him. But when the
demand reached King Mark, he and his knights absolutely refused to pay the
money, and sent the messenger back, with none too polite a message, to say
so. If he wanted the debt settled, they said, he could send the noblest
knight of his court to fight for it, otherwise the king might whistle for
his money.

King Anguish was furiously enraged when this message reached him, and
calling to him at once Sir Marhaus, his biggest and trustiest knight, sent
him without delay to Cornwall to fight this battle.

So Sir Marhaus set sail, and King Mark was troubled when he heard who was
coming against him, for he knew well he had no knight to match him.

At last Sir Marhaus arrived, but he did not land at once; for seven days
he abode in his ship, and each day he sent to King Mark a stern demand for
the money.

The king had no intention of paying the money, but he sorely wanted a
knight to fight for him. One worthy by birth and skill to meet this great
champion; and in great ado he sent all over the country in search of such
a one. At last, when none was to be found at home, someone counselled the
king to send to King Arthur at Camelot for one of the Knights of the Round
Table; but that could not be, for Sir Marhaus himself was a Round Table
knight, and they, of course, never fought each other, unless it was in
private quarrel.

When at last the news of all this reached young Tristram's ears, he felt
very greatly mortified that there could not be found in Cornwall a knight
to fight for their rights, and his heart burned within him to go and save
the honour of the West Country. He went to his father, King Melodias.
"It seems to me," he cried impetuously, "a shame to us all, that Sir
Marhaus, who is brother to the Queen of Ireland, should go back and say we
Cornishmen have no one worthy to fight him."

"Alas," answered the king, "know ye not that Sir Marhaus is one of the
noblest of Arthur's knights, the best knights of the world? Beyond those
of the Table Round I know none fit to match him."

"Then," cried Tristram, "I would I were a knight, for if Sir Marhaus
departs to Ireland unscathed, I will never more hold up my head for very
shame. Sir, give me leave to go to my uncle, King Mark, that I may by him
be made a knight."

King Melodias could deny his son nothing, so, "Do as your courage bids
you," he said, and Tristram, filled