. And the six maidens were fairer than any I had ever seen. Then we
sat down when the meat was ready, and though the food was good, it was
simple, and the vessels and flagons upon the table were of silver, but
very old and dented, as if they had been long in use.

'And no word was spoken until the meal was ended, and then the knight
asked me my name and whither I was going.

'I told him my name, and he told me his. And he was, he said, Sir Dewin
of Castle Cower. And I told him that I was faring south seeking any
great adventure, so that I might gain glory and renown. "For," I said,
"I wish to find a knight who is stronger and more dexterous in arms
than I."

'At that he looked upon me and smiled.

'"If I did not fear to distress you too much," he said, "I would show
you what you seek!"

'"Tell me," I said, "for I am eager to obtain this adventure."

'"Sleep here to-night," said Sir Dewin, "and in the morning rise early,
and take the road to the wood behind the castle. Follow the path till
you come to a fountain in a glade. There you will see a large cup, with
a chain. Strike the cup with your lance, and you will have the
adventure ye desire."

'And Sir Dewin smiled again as if he thought the adventure was one
which he deemed was beyond me, and I was angered and soon retired to my
pallet. But I could not sleep, for I was eager to rise and meet this
adventure, and to come back and mock Sir Dewin for his laughter.

'Before dawn I arose and equipped myself, and mounted my horse, and
took my way to the wood, as Sir Dewin had told me. And the road was
long and difficult; but at length I came to the glade and found the
fountain. On a stone pillar beside it a chain was fastened, and at the
end of the chain was a large cup.

'With my lance I struck the cup, and instantly there was a great peal
of thunder, so that I trembled for fear. And instantly there came a
great storm of rain and of hail. The hailstones were so large and so
hard that neither man nor beast could live through that storm, for they
would have slain them, so fiercely did they beat. And the way that I
escaped was this. I placed the beak of my shield over the head and neck
of my horse, while I held the upper part over my own head. Thus did we
withstand the storm, though the flanks of my horse were sore wounded.

'Then the sky cleared, the sun came out, and a flock of birds began to
sing on a tree beside the fountain. And surely no one has heard such
ent