they
had ridden many miles she became scornful, and told him she was
sorry she had chosen him.

Sir Brune felt sad, because he had begun to love the damsel. He
was afraid she did not like him because his coat was poor. He did
not speak to her any more, but rode on sorrowfully beside her.
After a long time they came to a castle enclosed by high walls.
The gate stood open, and the damsel Elinor pointed to it and
said, sighing:

"Since you have not left me as I hoped you would, go in there.
You will find your first adventure. I may not tell you what it
is."

Sir Brune galloped inside the gate. There he saw a hundred
knights on horseback, armed and waiting for him. He had to think
and act quickly. So he decided to rush in between the knights and
put his back against the castle wall. Then he could fight with
his back protected. He did this, though not without receiving
some spear-wounds. Then he began to fight.

The lady of the castle, whom the knights were keeping prisoner,
watched the fight out of the window, and grieved for the brave
young man who had so many against him. She began to speak to him
in a low voice:

"Young knight, if you can only get to the left side of the castle
wall, there is a secret door through which you can escape. If you
look, you will see that one portion of the wall is made of black
stones. Strike the stones with the hilt of your sword, and a door
will open through which you can ride out."

The other knights did not hear what the lady said, for they were
farther away from her than Sir Brune was. Even he could hardly
catch her words. He took a quick glance to the left and saw that
there was indeed a portion of the wall marked with black stones.
Then he began to work his way carefully towards the secret gate.

He was obliged to move slowly for fear the knights would guess
what he was doing. Moreover, it was becoming very hard to fight,
because of his many wounds. However, he at last came near the
door; then he backed his brown horse up against it, struck the
black stones with the handle of his sword, and the door opened.
The knights shouted with rage, but they were unable to reach him
in time. Sir Brune escaped, leaving behind him twelve men dead.

He was very weak, and he made his way painfully to the side of
the wall where the maiden Elinor waited for him. She ran to meet
him, and led him gently to a brook in a forest near by. There she
took off his armor and bathed his wounds, anoint