ad pointed out.

After they had thus departed, they travelled for a considerable distance
through the forest in that direction and anon they came to that mound of
which the damsel had spoken. And they beheld that the mound stood in a
wide open space of the woodland. And they beheld that there were many
cattle grazing around about this mound and upon the mound, and they
beheld that upon the mound there sat a gigantic being of such a hideous
aspect that they were astonished at his appearance. For his skin was
wellnigh black, and his half naked body was covered all over with hairs
like to the hairs upon the body of an ape.

Then, when this being beheld them where they came, he roared at them in
a great voice, saying, "Where go ye, little people, and what is your
business?"

To him Sir Launcelot made reply: "Fellow, I came hither to assay that
Adventure of the Fountain and these are my companions who come with me.
Now tell me what that adventure is and what I shall do to fulfill it."

Then that gigantic oaf bellowed with loud laughter and he cried out:
"Seekest thou that adventure? Now I warrant thee, thou wilt be well
satisfied when thou hast found it. For so all have been satisfied who
have come this way. Take thou yonder path and by and by thou wilt come
to a certain valley that is very fair and beautiful. In that valley is a
lake and there is a fountain nigh to the lake, and thou mayst know the
fountain because a great tree stands beside it and shelters the waters
thereof. Beside the fountain is a slab of stone and upon the slab is a
silver bowl attached to the slab by a chain of silver. Dip up some water
from the fountain into the silver bowl and cast the water upon the slab
of stone, and thou shalt straightway meet with an adventure that will, I
doubt not, satisfy all thy desires for a long time to come."

So spake that gigantic being in a voice like to thunder, and after he
had spoken they presently all departed upon further quest of that
adventure.

[Sidenote: _They behold the valley of the Fountain._]

So they travelled a very long distance until by and by they came to that
steep hill aforetold of in this history. Thereafter they climbed to the
top of this hill and found themselves at a place where the forest ceased
and whence beneath them lay a very fair valley. And they perceived from
a distance the lake and the fountain of which they had been told, and
after that they all rode down in that valley and to t