out of the castle, behold you forthwith two keepers of
the forest where they come, both twain of them smitten through the
body. The damsel and the knights ask who hath done this to them, and
they say it was Messire Gawain that did it, for that they would have
brought him to the castle.

"Is he far away?" saith the damsel.

"Yea," say they, "Four great leagues Welsh."

"Wherefore the greater folly would it be to follow him," saith one of
the sixteen knights, "For nought should we increase thereby save only
our own shame and hurt, and my Lady hath lost him through her own
default, for well know we that he it was that lay within, for that he
beareth a shield sinople with a golden eagle."

"Yea," saith the wounded knight, "Without fail."

"Is this then he?" saith the damsel. "I know him well now that I have
lost him by my pride and by my outrage; nor never more will knight lie
in my hostel sith that he will be estranged for that I ask not his
name. But it is too late! Herein have I failed of this one for ever
and ever save God bring him back to me, and through this one shall I
lose the other two!"

IX.

Herewithal cometh to a stay the pursuit of Messire Gawain, that goeth
his way and prayeth God that He send him true counsel of that he hath
emprised, and that He allow him to come into some place where he may
hear true witting of the hostel of King Fisherman. And while he was
thus thinking, he heareth a brachet questing, and he cometh toward him
a great pace. When he is come anigh Messire Gawain he setteth his nose
to the ground and findeth a track of blood through a grassy way in the
forest, and when Messire Gawain was minded to leave the way where the
track of blood was, the brachet came over against him and quested.
Messire Gawain is minded not to abandon the track, wherefore he
followeth the brachet a great pace until he cometh to a marish in the
midst of the forest, and seeth there in the marish a house, ancient and
decayed. He passeth with the brachet over the bridge, that was right
feeble, and there was a great water under it, and cometh to the hall,
that was wasted and old. And the brachet leaveth of his questing.
Messire Gawain seeth in the midst of house a knight that was stricken
right through the breast unto the heart and there lay dead. A damsel
was issuing forth of the chamber and bare the winding-sheet wherein to
enshroud him.

"Damsel," saith Messire Gawain, "Good adventure may you have!"