for their husbands have been slain by the lord of
the castle, who is called the brown knight without pity, and there is no
more perilous knight now living. Therefore," continued the page, "I bid
you flee."

"You may be afraid of him," said Gareth; "but I shall not flee for
that."

Then the page saw the brown knight coming.

"Lo! yonder he cometh," he said.

"Let me deal with him," said Gareth.

When the brown knight saw a champion in the road, with spear in rest,
awaiting him, he prepared quickly for the combat, and spurring his
strong war-horse, rode furiously upon Gareth, breaking his spear in the
middle of his shield. But Gareth struck him a fatal blow in return, for
his spear went through his body, so that he fell to the ground stark
dead.

Then the victor rode into the castle, and prayed the ladies that he
might find repose there for the night.

"Alas!" they cried, "that cannot be."

"Give him your best cheer," said the page, "for this knight has killed
your enemy."

Hearing this, they joyfully did their utmost to make him comfortable. In
the morning, when he was ready to depart, he went to mass, and there saw
the thirty ladies kneeling, and some of them grovelling upon the tombs,
with the greatest sorrow and lamentation.

"Fair ladies, you have my pity," he said. "Grieve no more, I pray you;
your enemy is justly punished for his crimes."

So with few words he departed, and rode onward till fortune brought him
into another mountain. Not far up its slope had he gone when he saw
before him a sturdy knight, who bade him stand and joust.

"Who are you?" asked Gareth.

"I am the Duke de la Rowse."

"Then I lodged lately in your castle, and promised your lady that I
should yield unto you."

"Ah!" said the duke, "are you that proud knight who proffered to fight
with any of my followers? Make ready, sirrah; I must have a
passage-at-arms with you, for I would know which of us is the better
man."

So they spurred together, and Gareth smote the duke from his horse. But
in a moment he was on his feet, sword in hand, and bidding his
antagonist to alight and continue the battle on foot. Nothing loath,
Gareth obeyed, and for more than an hour they fought, until both were
sorely hurt. But in the end Gareth got the duke to the earth, and bade
him yield if he would save his life. At this the duke lost no time in
yielding.

"Then must you go," said Gareth, "unto my lord King Arthur at the next
feast, and say