ted her horse, and rode out of the city gate. Gareth
followed, and at the doorway found a noble war horse which the
king had ordered to be given him. Near by were the two faithful
servants who had followed him from his mother's home. They held
his armor. Gareth put it on, seized his lance and shield, jumped
upon his horse, and rode off joyfully.

Sir Kay, who was watching, said to Sir Lancelot:

"Why does the king send my kitchen lad to fight? I will go after
the boy and put him to his pots and pans again."

"Sir Kay, do not attempt to do that," said Sir Lancelot.
"Remember that the king commanded him to go."

But Sir Kay leaped on his horse and followed Gareth.

Meanwhile, Sir Gareth overtook the damsel and said:

"Lady, I am to right your wrong. Lead and I follow."

But she cried:

"Go back! I smell kitchen grease when you are near. Go back! your
master has come for you."

Gareth looked behind and saw that Sir Kay was riding up to him.
When Sir Kay was within hearing distance, he shouted:

"Come back with me to the kitchen."

"I will not," said Gareth.

Then Sir Kay rode fiercely at the youth. Gareth, however, struck
him from his horse, and then turned to the damsel, saying:

"Lead on; I follow."

She rode for a long time in silence, with Gareth a few paces
behind her. At last she stopped and said:

"You have overthrown your master, you kitchen boy, but I do not
like you any better for it. I still smell the kitchen grease."

Sir Gareth said, very gently:

"You may speak to me as you will, but I shall not leave you till
I have righted your wrong."

"Ah!" she said, scornfully, "you talk like a noble knight, but
you are not one," and she again galloped in front of him.

Presently, as they passed a thick wood, a man broke out of it and
spoke to them:

"Help! help! they are drowning my lord!"

"Follow! I lead!" shouted Gareth to the damsel, and rushed into
the wood. There he found six men trying to drown a seventh.
Gareth attacked them with such vigor that they fled. When the
rescued man had recovered, he thanked Gareth warmly.

"I am the lord of the castle yonder," he said, "and these are my
enemies. You came in time."

Then he begged Gareth and the lady to stay all night in his
castle. They agreed, and he led the way. He took them into his
large hall and was about to seat them side by side at a dining
table. But the damsel said in scorn:

"This is a kitchen boy, and I will not sit by him.