hall you
find him without fail."

Thereof hath Messire Gawain right great joy, and so departeth from the
knight and the knight from him, and goeth back toward the sea a great
gallop. But Messire Gawain saw not the ship whereinto he entered, for
that it was anchored underneath the cliff. The knight entered
thereinto and put out to sea as he had wont to do. Howbeit Messire
Gawain goeth his way toward the Red Launde where the assembly was to
be, and desireth much the day that it shall be. He rideth until he
cometh one eventide nigh to a castle that was of right fair seeming.
He met a damsel that was following after a dead knight that two other
knights bare upon a horse-bier, and she rode a great pace right amidst
the forest. And Messire Gawain cometh to meet her and saluteth her,
and she returned the salute as fairly as she might.

"Damsel," saith Messire Gawain, "Who lieth in this bier?"

"Sir, a knight that a certain man hath slain by great outrage."

"And whither shall you ride this day?"

"Sir, I would fain be in the Red Launde, and thither will I take this
knight, that was a right worshipful man for his age."

"And wherefore will you take him there?" saith Messire Gawain.

"For that he that shall do best at the assembly of knights shall avenge
this knight's death."

III.

The damsel goeth her way thereupon. And Messire Gawain goeth to the
castle that he had seen, and found none within save only one solitary
knight, old and feeble, and a squire that waited upon him. Howbeit,
Messire Gawain alighteth at the castle. The Vavasour lodged him well
and willingly, and made his door be well shut fast and Messire Gawain
be disarmed, and that night he showed him honour as well as he might.
And when it came to the morrow and Messire Gawain was minded to depart
thence, the Vavasour saith to him, "Sir you may not depart thus, for
this door hath not been opened this long while save only yesterday,
when I made it be opened before you, to the intent that you should meet
on my behalf a certain knight that is fain to slay me, for that the
King of Castle Mortal hath had his hold herewithin, he that warreth on
the Queen of the Maidens. Wherefore I pray you that you help me to
defend it against the knight."

"What shield beareth he?" saith Messire Gawain.

"He beareth a golden shield with a green cross."

"And what sort of knight is he?" saith Messire Gawain.

"Sir," saith the Vavasour, "A good knight and a hardy