ull speed. But as he rode, the
dwarf called loudly to his master for help, waking the sleeping knight,
who sprang to his feet and saw the robber and the dwarf vanishing into
the distance.

Then Beaumains armed himself in a fury, and rode straight forward
through marshes and dales, so hot upon the chase that he heeded not the
road, and was more than once flung by his stumbling horse into the mire.
At length he met a country-man, whom he asked for information.

[Illustration: BEAUMAINS, DAMSEL, AND DWARF.]

"Sir knight," he answered, "I have seen the rider with the dwarf. But I
advise you to follow him no farther. His name is Sir Gringamore; he
dwells but two miles from here, and he is one of the most valiant
knights of the country round."

With little dread from this warning, Beaumains rode on, with double fury
as he came near the robber's castle. Soon he thundered through the
gates, which stood wide open, and sword in hand cried, in a voice that
rang through the castle,--

"Thou traitor, Sir Gringamore, yield me my dwarf again, or by the faith
that I owe to the order of knighthood I will make you repent bitterly
your false deed."

Meanwhile, within the castle matters of interest were occurring. For
Gringamore was brother to the Lady Lioness, and had stolen the dwarf at
her request, that she might learn from him who Beaumains really was. The
dwarf, under threat of imprisonment for life, thus answered,--

"I fear to tell his name and kindred. Yet if I must I will say that he
is a king's son, that his mother is sister to King Arthur, and that his
name is Sir Gareth of Orkney. Now, I pray you, let me go to him again,
for he will have me in spite of you, and if he be angry, he will work
you much rack and ruin."

"As for that," said Gringamore, "it can wait. Let us go to dinner."

"He may well be a king's son," said Linet to her sister, "for he is the
most courteous and long-suffering man I ever met. I tried him with such
reviling as never lady uttered before, but he bore it all with meek and
gentle answers. Yet to armed knights he was like a lion."

As they thus talked, the challenge of Beaumains rang loud from the
castle court. Then Gringamore called loudly to him from a window,--

"Cease your boasting, Gareth of Orkney, you will not get your dwarf
again."

"Thou coward knight," cried Beaumains. "Bring him here, and do battle
with me. Then if you can win him, keep him."

"So I will when I am ready. But you w