ed. "It pleases me so to be
with you that I have found joy even in your evil words. And now that you
are pleased to speak courteously to me, it seems to me that I am stout
at heart enough to meet any knight living."

As to the battle that followed between Beaumains and Persant, it began
and ended much like those that we have related, Persant in the end being
overcome, and gaining his life at the lady's request. He yielded himself
and a hundred knights to be at Beaumains's command, and invited the
travellers to his pavilion, where they were feasted nobly.

In the morning Beaumains and the damsel after breakfasting, prepared to
continue their journey.

"Whither do you lead this knight?" asked Persant of the damsel.

"Sir knight," she replied, "he is going to the aid of my sister, who is
besieged in the Castle Dangerous."

"Ah!" cried Persant, "then he will have to do with the Knight of the Red
Lawns, a man without mercy, and with the strength of seven men. I fear
you take too perilous a task, fair sir. This villain has done great
wrong to the lady of the castle, Dame Lioness. I think, fair damsel, you
are her sister, Linet?"

"That is my name," replied the damsel.

"This I may say," rejoined Persant: "the Knight of the Red Lawns would
have had the castle long ago, but it is his purpose to draw to the
rescue Lancelot, Gawaine, Tristram, or Lamorak, whom he is eager to
match his might against."

"My Lord Persant of India," said Linet, "will you not make this
gentleman a knight before he meets this dread warrior?"

"With all my heart," answered Persant.

"I thank you for your good will," said Beaumains, "but I have been
already knighted, and that by the hand of Sir Lancelot."

"You could have had the honor from no more renowned knight," answered
Persant. "He, Tristram, and Lamorak now bear the meed of highest renown,
and if you fairly match the red knight you may claim to make a fourth in
the world's best champions."

"I shall ever do my best," answered Beaumains. "This I may tell you: I
am of noble birth. If you and the damsel will keep my secret I will tell
it you."

"We shall not breathe it except with your permission," they replied.

"Then I will acknowledge that my name is Gareth of Orkney, that King Lot
was my father, and that I am a nephew of King Arthur, and brother to
Gawaine, Gaheris, and Agravaine. Yet none of these know who I am, for
they left my father's castle while I was but a child."

While