reat that he forgot the ring, which he left in the keeping
of the dwarf, while he replaced his helm, mounted his horse, and rode
briskly back to the lists.
When he reached the field again he was in yellow armor, and there he
rashed off helms and pulled down knights till King Arthur marvelled more
than ever what knight this was, for though his color changed no more,
the king saw by his hair that he was the same knight.
"Go and ride about that yellow knight," said the king to several
heralds, "and see if you can learn who he is. I have asked many knights
of his party to-day, and none of them know him."
So a herald rode as near Gareth as he could, and there he saw written
about his helm in letters of gold, "This helm is Sir Gareth's of
Orkney."
Then the herald cried out as if he were mad, and many others echoed his
words, "The knight in the yellow arms is Sir Gareth of Orkney, King
Lot's son!"
When Gareth saw that he was discovered he doubled his strokes in his
anger, and smote down Sir Sagramore, and his brother Gawaine.
"Oh, brother!" cried Gawaine, "I did not deem that you would strike me.
Can you not find food enough for your sword, without coming so near
home?"
On hearing this, Gareth was troubled in soul, and with great force made
his way out of the press, meeting his dwarf outside.
"Faithless boy!" he cried; "you have beguiled me foully to-day by
keeping my ring. Give it to me again; I am too well known without it."
He took the ring, and at once he changed color again, so that all lost
sight of him but Gawaine, who had kept his eyes fixed upon him. Leaving
the lists, Gareth now rode into the forest, followed at a distance by
his brother, who soon lost sight of him in the woodland depths.
When Gareth saw that he had thus distanced his pursuer, he turned to the
dwarf and asked his counsel as to what should now be done.
"Sir," said the dwarf, "it seems best to me, now that you are free from
danger of spying, that you send my lady, Dame Lioness, her ring. It is
too precious a thing to keep from her."
"That is well advised," said Gareth. "Take it to her, and say that I
recommend myself to her good grace, and will come when I may; and pray
her to be true and faithful to me, as I will be to her."
"It shall be done as you command," said the dwarf, and, receiving the
ring, he rode on his errand.
The Lady Lioness received him graciously, and listened with beaming eyes
to Gareth's message.
"Wh
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