ss?" asked Sir Geraint. "And do a lady
and a dwarf ride with him?"

"Yes," said the earl.

"Ah, then he is the man I am in search of," said Sir Geraint. "I
must fight with him before three days are over. I am Geraint of
King Arthur's Court."

"I know your name well," said the earl. "We often hear of your
great deeds at Camelot. Many times have I related to my Enid the
story of your brave deeds."

"I am bound to do my duty with the other knights," answered Sir
Geraint. "And now tell me more of this Sparrow-hawk."

"Alas! he is my nephew," said the earl. "At one time I ruled this
town. My nephew, the Sparrow-hawk, was powerful, too, and he
asked to unite our power by marrying Enid, but neither she nor I
wished it. Then he collected a body of men and attacked me, and
took all my wealth, leaving me nothing but this old castle."

"To-morrow," said Sir Geraint, "I will fight in the tournament
with this Sparrow-hawk, and conquer him, and give you back your
lands. But I lack armor."

"I can give you armor, although it is old and rusty," said the
earl. "But no one is allowed to fight in this tournament unless
there is some lady he loves best in all the world. Then he fights
for the sake of this lady, and if he wins, receives the prize,
which he in turn gives to her."

"What is the prize?" asked Sir Geraint.

"A hawk, a sparrow-hawk made of gold. This nephew of mine is very
strong and has always overcome every knight who has opposed him
in these tournaments, which are held yearly. It is because he has
won the prize so often that he is called the Sparrow-hawk. But
tell me, is there some lady whom you love?"

Then Sir Geraint said:

"I love this child of yours, my lord, and will gladly make her my
wife if you will permit it."

The earl was very glad, but Enid was afraid, for she thought she
was not worthy of such a great knight. Yet, she knew she loved
him, and said so, and soon promised to go with him to Arthur's
Court within three days.

The next morning, the earl and Sir Geraint and Enid went to the
field where the tournament was to take place. Many knights and
ladies were there. The ladies sat under a pavilion which was
draped in purple velvet ornamented with gold, while the knights
were on horseback. A herald blew a trumpet, and the knight who
was called the Sparrow-hawk galloped into the field.

He rode around it three times, and then went up to the pavilion
and said to his lady:

"I give you the gold s