er, brother?" asked the Black Knight curtly. "I must
beg of you a bed and a bit of roof, for this night, and fain would
refresh my body ere I sleep."

"I have no room that even your steed would deign to accept, Sir Knight;
and naught save a crust of bread and pitcher of water."

"I' faith, I can smell better fare than that, brother, and must e'en
force my company upon you, though I shall recompense it for gold in the
name of the church. As for my horse, let him but be blanketed and put on
the sheltered side of the house."

And without further parley the knight boldly strode past Tuck and his
dog and entered the hermitage. Something about his masterful air pleased
Tuck, in spite of his churlishness.

"Sit you down, Sir Knight," quoth he, "and I will fasten up up your
steed, and find him somewhat in the shape of grain. Half, also, of my
bed and board is yours, this night; but we shall see later who is the
better man, and is to give the orders!"

"With all my soul!" said the knight, laughing. "I can pay my keeping in
blows or gold as you prefer."

The friar presently returned and drew up a small table near the fire.

"Now, Sir Knight," quoth he, "put off your sword and helm and such other
war-gear as it pleases you, and help me lay this table, for I am passing
hungry."

The knight did as he was told, and put aside the visor which had hid
his face. He was a bronzed and bearded man with blue eyes, and hair shot
with gold, haughty but handsome withal.

Then once again the priest sat him down to his pasty and mulled wine,
right hopefully. He spoke his grace with some haste, and was surprised
to hear his guest respond fittingly in the Latin tongue. Then they
attacked the wine and pasty valiantly, and the Black Knight made good
his word of being in need of refreshment. Tuck looked ruefully at the
rapidly disappearing food, but came to grudge it not, by reason of the
stories with which his guest enlivened the meal. The wine and warmth of
the room had cheered them both, and they were soon laughing uproariously
as the best of comrades in the world. The Black Knight, it seemed, had
traveled everywhere. He had been on crusades, had fought the courteous
Saladin, had been in prison, and often in peril. But now he spoke of
it lightly, and laughed it off, and made himself so friendly that Friar
Tuck was like to choke with merriment. So passed the time till late; and
the two fell asleep together, one on each side of the table wh