rvice."

This advice pleased the lady, whose warm faith in the prowess of her
lover told her that he would win in the tournament. She therefore set
out with a noble escort and rode to King Arthur's court, where she was
received with the highest honors. The king closely questioned her about
Sir Gareth, desiring particularly to know what had become of him. She
answered that where he was she was not at liberty to tell, and said
further to the king,--

"Sir, there is a way to find him. It is my purpose to call a tournament,
which shall be held before my castle at the feast of the Assumption.
You, my lord Arthur, must be there with your knights, and my knights
shall be against you. I doubt me not that then you shall hear of Sir
Gareth."

"That is well advised," said the king.

"It shall be announced," she continued, "that the knight who proves the
best shall wed me and be lord of my lands. If he be already wedded, his
wife shall have a coronal of gold, set with precious stones to the value
of a thousand pounds, and a white jerfalcon."

"It is well," said the king. "That will bring Sir Gareth, if he be alive
and able to come. If he would win you, he must do his duty nobly."

Soon after the Lady Lioness departed and returned to her castle, where
she told all that had passed, and began preparations for the tournament,
which was to be held two months from that day.

Gareth sent for Sir Persant of Inde, and for Sir Ironside, the Red
Knight of the Red Lawns, bidding them be ready with all their followers,
to fight on his side against King Arthur and his knights. And the cry
for the tournament was made in England, Wales and Scotland, Ireland, and
Cornwall, and in all the out islands, and in Brittany and other
countries. Many good knights came from afar, eager to win honor in the
lists, the most of whom held with the party of the castle against King
Arthur and his knights.

In due time King Arthur and his following appeared at the Castle
Dangerous, there being with him Gawaine and the other brothers of
Gareth, Lancelot with his nephews and cousins, and all the most valiant
Knights of the Round Table, with various kings who owed him knightly
service, as noble a band of warriors as had ever been seen in the land.

Meanwhile Dame Lioness had hospitably entertained the knights of her
party, providing ample lodging and food, though abundance was left to be
had for gold and silver by King Arthur and his knights.

But Gareth be