g in mid-air.

Many knights and horses went to the earth in that mad onset, and many
others who had broken their spears drew their swords and so kept up the
fray. The part of the line where Tristram and Persides was drove back
the king of Northgalis and his men, with many noble knights who fought
on the side of the Welsh king. But through the rush and roar of the
onset there pushed forward Bleoberis de Ganis and Gaheris, who hurled
Persides to the earth, where he was almost slain, for as he lay there
helpless more than forty horsemen rode over him in the fray.

Seeing this, and what valiant deeds the two knights did, Tristram
marvelled who they were. But perceiving the danger in which his comrade
Persides lay, he rushed to the rescue with such force that Gaheris was
hurled headlong from his horse. Then Bleoberis in a rage put his spear
in rest and rode furiously against Tristram, but he was met in
mid-career, and flung from his saddle by the resistless spear of the
Cornish knight.

The king with the hundred knights now rode angrily forward, pressed back
the struggling line, and horsed Gaheris and Bleoberis. Then began a
fierce struggle, in which Bleoberis and Tristram did many deeds of
knightly skill and valor.

As the violent combat continued, Dinadan, who was on the other side,
rode against Tristram, not knowing him, and got such a buffet that he
swooned in his saddle. He recovered in a minute, however, and, riding to
his late companion, said in a low voice,--

"Sir knight, is this the way you serve an old comrade, masking under a
black shield? I know you now better than you deem. I will not reveal
your disguise, but by my troth I vow I will never try buffets with you
again, and, if I keep my wits, sword of yours shall never come near my
headpiece."

As Dinadan withdrew to repair damages, Bleoberis rode against Tristram,
who gave him such a furious sword-blow on the helm that he bowed his
head to the saddle. Then Tristram caught him by the helm, jerked him
from his horse, and flung him down under the feet of the steed.

This ended the fray, for at that moment Arthur bade the heralds to blow
to lodging, and the knights who still held saddle sheathed their swords.
Tristram thereupon departed to his pavilion and Dinadan with him.

But Arthur, and many of those with him, wondered who was the knight with
the black shield, who had with sword and spear done such wondrous deeds.
Many opinions were given, and some sus