nd now they will surely take you and
your lady unless you go back. I barely escaped with my life, and hid
when I heard you, thinking you were of their thievish company.'

'Take me to them!' cried Beaumains, and the poor squire, holding the
knight's stirrup-leather, ran with him. And surely, in a little while,
three knaves rushed forth before them in the green drive and bade
Beaumains stand. But grimly he dashed at them, before ever they could
recover. Two he cut down with his good sword as they stood, and the
third, trying to escape, was run between the shoulders.

Then turning, Beaumains saw in a glade near the drive where three other
knaves stood beside a knight bound to a tree. They dashed towards
Beaumains with spiked clubs uplifted. But the squire rushed at one,
tripped him up and despatched him; and the others suddenly decided to
turn and flee. Their resolution came too late, however, for Beaumains
cut them down as they ran.

The knight was quickly released by his squire, and came up to his
rescuer, and thanked him heartily for his speedy help.

'Come with me,' he said, 'you and your lady, to my castle, which is but
a little way hence, and I will fittingly requite thee for the saving of
my life.'

'Nay,' said Beaumains, 'I will have no reward. All I do henceforth is
but my duty, and I will take naught in payment. Moreover, I must follow
this lady.'

The knight went to the lady, and begged that she would accept his
hospitality, for the twilight was deepening and they were yet far from
a town. The damsel consented, but, on reaching the castle of the
knight, she would not permit Beaumains to sit at the same table with
her.

'Take the knave hence!' she cried haughtily. 'He is but a scullion from
King Arthur's kitchen, and is not fit to sit with a lady of rank. He is
more suited, sir knight, to dine with your turnspits.'

'Lady, I do not understand your words,' said the knight, 'for this
gentleman hath proved himself a man of knightly courage and courtesy
this day.'

'As for that,' said the lady, 'I count it naught. He took the rascals
unawares, and they had no heart. They were but sorrier knaves than he
is.'

'Well,' said the knight, 'since you mislike him so, he shall sit with
me, and you shall sit alone.'

So it was done, and while the lady sat eating her meal in chilly
silence at one table, Beaumains and the knight, his host, laughed and
talked merrily over their dinner at another.

Next morning, e