appertaining to all.
Wherefore it was the injury that had been done to Sir Sagramore was also
an injury done to Sir Ewaine, and so it was that Sir Ewaine felt himself
called upon to undertake that adventure in which Sir Sagramore had
failed as aforesaid.

Then Sir Ewaine said: "Now I prithee tell me where that path is that may
bring me to this adventure and to-morrow I will part from you and will
myself enter upon it. Meantime, do you both resume your quest of Sir
Launcelot, and if I should not prosper in this undertaking, I will
return hither and leave report of my happenings. Wherefore at this place
you may, at any time, easily hear what hath befallen me if you will come
hither."

[Sidenote: _Sir Ewaine departeth upon the Adventure of the Fountain._]

So Sir Sagramore gave Sir Ewaine such directions for that adventure as
were necessary and after that they all went to bed to rest them after
their travails of the day. And when the next morning had come and while
the dew still lay upon the grass, shining like to a thin veil of fine,
bright silver spread over the level meadow-lands, Sir Ewaine arose all
in the freshness of the early daytime and busked him whilst the rest of
the castle still lay fast asleep. And he donned his armor and went down
and aroused the sleeping groom and gave command that his horse should be
brought to him; and after the groom had apparelled his horse he mounted
and rode forth upon that way which Sir Sagramore had advised him would
lead him toward the castle of the Lady Vivien.

* * * * *

And now if you would know how Sir Ewaine prospered in that undertaking
which he had assumed, I pray you to read further in this history and you
shall hear how it befell with him.

[Illustration: Sir Ewaine poureth water on the slab:]

[Illustration]

Chapter Second

_How Sir Ewaine undertook that adventure in which Sir Sagramore had
failed, and how it sped with him thereafter._

Thus it was that Sir Ewaine departed upon that adventure whilst Sir
Percival and Sir Sagramore were still asleep, and no one wist of his
going saving only the groom. After he wended his way from that place
until he had come to the woodlands, and he entered the woodlands and
travelled therein for a long while, breaking his fast with the charcoal
burners whom he found there at a curious place. About the middle of the
morning he came to a high hill, and when he had climbed this hill he
beh