as though it must bring her to him in spite of her
jailers.

But they were parted, those two, by a fate as strong as death. And she
lay immured in her castle home, while he sailed on and on, not heeding nor
caring whither he went, for all that he loved dwelt on that bleak
iron-bound coast, as far from him as though the whole wide world lay
between them.

And so at last, not heeding whither he sailed, he came to that sunny land
where his wife Iseult dwelt, praying always for revenge because she had
been scorned by him. On the coast at Brittany he landed, close by his own
castle, but no sooner had he stepped ashore than he was met by a knight
who knelt before him and besought his aid.

"Noble sir," cried he, "I am in sore distress. Some robbers, who infest
this land like a scourge, met me as I was riding along with my new-made
bride, and I being alone and single-handed, they quickly mastered me, and
binding me, carried my bride away. And how to rescue her I know not.
Come to my aid, sir, I beseech you, for you look a noble and trusty
knight."

Sir Tristram, glad to have some distraction from his sorrow, was only too
ready to help others who suffered for love's sake. So to Iseult he sent a
message to say he had arrived, and would have been with her but for the
quest, which he was bound to accomplish for his honour's sake, and for the
sake of his knighthood. Then he departed, and he and the knight rode
along the seashore in search of the robbers.

All night they slept in the wood by the sea, but as soon as morning broke
there sounded close at hand a great trampling of horses and clanking of
arms, and soon came along the robber band, with the pale-faced, terrified
lady in their midst, fastened to one of the robbers.

At this sight the hapless young husband could no longer restrain himself.
With a fierce cry he flew at the man to whom his bride was bound,
while Sir Tristram, cool and strong, closed with the band and slew three
before they had tried to defend themselves. And so the unequal battle
began, and so it raged; but with so much courage and fierceness did the
two knights fight for their just cause, that soon nearly all the robber
band lay lifeless on the ground.

The young knight, though, was himself by that time wounded by the last
remaining of the band, and ill would it have gone with him, for the
reeking sword was raised high to give him the final blow, when Sir
Tristram with a cry of triumph rushed