mour, I returned to my
own court. The horse is still in the stable, and I would not part with
it for any in Britain.

'But of a truth, Kai, no man ever confessed an adventure so much to his
own dishonour, and strange indeed it seems that none other man have I
ever met that knew of the black man, and the knight, and the shower.'

'Would it not be well,' said Owen, 'to go and discover the place?'

'By the hand of my friend,' answered Kai, 'often dost thou utter that
with thy tongue which thou wouldest not make good with thy deeds.'

'In truth,' said Guenevere the queen, who had listened to the tale,
'thou wert better hanged, Kai, than use such speech towards a man like
Owen.'

'I meant nothing, lady,' replied Kai; 'thy praise of Owen is not greater
than mine.' And as he spoke Arthur awoke, and asked if he had not slept
for a little.

'Yes, lord,' answered Owen, 'certainly thou hast slept.'

'Is it time for us to go to meat?'

'It is, lord,' answered Owen.

Then the horn for washing themselves was sounded, and after that the
king and his household sat down to eat. And when they had finished, Owen
left them, and made ready his horse and his arms.

With the first rays of the sun he set forth, and travelled through
deserts and over mountains and across rivers, and all befell him which
had befallen Kynon, till he stood under the leafless tree listening to
the song of the birds. Then he heard the voice, and turning to look
found the knight galloping to meet him. Fiercely they fought till their
lances were broken, and then they drew their swords, and a blow from
Owen cut through the knight's helmet, and pierced his skull.

Feeling himself wounded unto death the knight fled, and Owen pursued him
till they came to a splendid castle. Here the knight dashed across the
bridge that spanned the moat, and entered the gate, but as soon as he
was safe inside, the drawbridge was pulled up and caught Owen's horse in
the middle, so that half of him was inside and half out, and Owen could
not dismount and knew not what to do.

While he was in this sore plight a little door in the castle gate
opened, and he could see a street facing him, with tall houses. Then a
maiden with curling hair of gold looked through the little door and bade
Owen open the gate.

'By my troth!' cried Owen, 'I can no more open it from here than thou
art able to set me free.'

'Well,' said she, 'I will do my best to release thee if thou wilt do as
I tel