all haste to Marhaus that a better born man than himself
should fight with him, the son of King Meliodas, and his own nephew.
And while he waited an answer he took care to find for his nephew the
best horse and the finest suit of armor that gold could procure. By the
time he was thus provided word came back from Marhaus that he would be
glad and blithe to fight with a gentleman of such noble birth. And he
requested that the combat should take place in an island near which lay
his ships. This being accepted, Tristram was sent thither in a vessel,
with his horse and armor, but attended only by his tutor Gouvernail,
whom he now made his squire.

On reaching the island Tristram saw on the further shore six ships, but
he saw no knight. Then he bade Gouvernail to bring his horse ashore and
arm him. This done, he mounted and took his shield, and then said,--

"Where is this knight with whom I have to fight? I see him not."

"Yonder he hovers," answered Gouvernail, "under the shadow of the ships.
He waits you on horseback, and fully armed."

"True enough. I see him now. All is well. Do you take the vessel and go
back to my uncle Mark, and tell him that if I be slain it will not be
through cowardice, and pray him, if I die in fair fight, to see that I
be interred honorably; but if I should prove recreant then he shall give
me no Christian burial. And come you not near the island, on your life,
till you see me overcome or slain, or till I give you the signal of
victory."

Then Gouvernail departed, weeping, for his young master had spoken so
resolutely that he dared not disobey. Tristram now rode boldly towards
Sir Marhaus, who came forward to meet him. Much courteous conversation
passed between the two knights, Tristram at the end saying,--

"I trust, Sir Marhaus, to win honor and renown from you, and to deliver
Cornwall from tribute forever, and to this end I shall do my best in all
valor and honor."

"Fair sir," answered Marhaus, "your spirit pleases me; but as for
gaining honor from me, you will lose none if you keep back three strokes
beyond my reach, for King Arthur made me not Knight of the Round Table
except for good cause."

"That may well be," answered Tristram; "but if I show the white feather
in my first battle may I never bear arms again."

Then they put their spears in rest and rode so furiously together that
both were hurled to the earth, horse and man alike. But Tristram had the
ill fortune to receive a s