ful of her, flung him on the couch, and soon slept, despite
his grief and wrath. But Enid watched again that night, and, before
cock-crow, arose, set all his armour ready in one place, and then,
though fearful of his wrath, stepped to his side and touching him
gently, said: "Awake, my lord, and arm you, and save me and
yourself." Then she told him of all the Earl had said and of the
device she had used to save them both. Then wrathfully he rose and
armed himself, bidding her rouse the host to saddle and bring forth
the horses. When all was ready, Prince Geraint asked the man his
reckoning. "Ye owe but little," said the host. "Take then the seven
horses and the suits of armour," said Geraint. "Why, noble sir,"
cried the host, "I scarce have spent the value of one." "The richer
thou," answered Geraint. "Now show me the road from the town."

So the man guided them from the town, and scarce was he returned
when Earl Durm--for so was the Earl named--hammered at the door,
with forty followers at his back. "Where is the knight who was here
erewhile?" "He is gone hence, my lord," answered the host. "Fool
and villain!" cried the Earl, "why didst thou suffer him to escape?
Which way went he?" And the man, fearful and trembling, directed
the Earl the road Geraint had gone.

So it came to pass, as they rode on their way, Enid in front, the
Prince behind, that it seemed to Enid she heard the beat of many
horse-hoofs. And, as before, she broke Geraint's command, caring
little for aught that might befall her in comparison of loss to
him. "My lord," said she, "seest thou yonder knight pursuing thee
and many another with him?" "Yea, in good truth, I see him," said
Geraint, "and I see, too, that never wilt thou obey me." Then he
turned him about and, laying lance in rest, bore straight down upon
Earl Durm, who foremost rushed upon him; and such was the shock of
their encounter, that Earl Durm was borne from his saddle and lay
without motion as one dead. And Geraint charged fiercely upon the
Earl's men, unhorsing some and wounding others; and the rest,
having little heart for the fight after their master's overthrow,
turned and fled.

Then Geraint signed to Enid to ride on as before, and so they
journeyed the space of another hour while the summer sun beat upon
them with ever increasing force. Now the Prince had received a
grievous hurt in the encounter with Earl Durm and his men; but such
was his spirit that he heeded it not, though