stroke or two at Gaheris, Dinadan withdrew from the
fray.

"This is not fair, two to one," said Palamides. "Stand aside, Gaheris,
with that knight who declines to fight, and let us two finish the
combat."

Then he and Tristram fought long and fiercely, Tristram in the end
driving him back three paces. At this Gaheris and Dinadan pushed
between them and bade them cease fighting, as both had done enough for
honor.

"So be it," said Tristram, "and these brave knights are welcome to lodge
with us in the castle if they will."

"With you, not with us," said Dinadan, dryly. "When I lodge in that
devil's den may I sell my sword for a herring. We will be called up
every hour of the night to fight for our bedding. And as for you, good
friend, when I ride with you again, it will be when you have grown older
and wiser, or I younger and more foolish."

With these words he mounted his horse and rode in an ill-humor out of
the castle gates.

"Come, good sirs, we must after him," said Tristram, with a laugh. "He
is a prime good fellow, if he has taken himself off in a pet; it is
likely I gave him an overdose of fighting."

So, asking a man of the castle to guide them to a lodging, they rode
after Dinadan, whom they soon overtook, though he gave them no hearty
welcome. Two miles farther brought them to a priory, where they spent
the night in comfort.

Early the next day Tristram mounted and rode away, leaving Dinadan at
the priory, for he was too much bruised to mount his horse. There
remained at the priory with him a knight named Pellinore, who sought
earnestly to learn Tristram's name, and at last said angrily to
Dinadan,--

"Since you will not tell me his name, I will ride after him and make him
tell it himself, or leave him on the ground to repent."

"Beware, my good sir," said Dinadan, "or the repentance will be yours
instead of his. No wise man is he who thrusts his own hand in the fire."

"Good faith, I fear him not," said Pellinore, haughtily, and rode on his
way.

But he paid dearly for his hardiness, for a half-hour afterwards he lay
on the earth with a spear wound in his shoulder, while Tristram rode
unscathed on his way.

On the day following Tristram met with pursuivants, who were spreading
far and wide the news of a great tournament that was to be held between
King Carados and the king of North Wales, at the Castle of Maidens. They
were seeking for good knights to take part in that tournament, and in
pa