with his sword, naming him knight.

Thereupon they parted with many kind words, and Beaumains made haste to
overtake the damsel, who had long since disappeared.

As for Sir Kay, he was lifted upon Sir Lancelot's shield and taken back
to the court, and there slowly he recovered of his wound. Men laughed
him to scorn for the beating he had received from his own 'kitchen
boy.'

'Lo,' said some, 'the proud knight went forth to cuff his own scullion,
and the scullion beat him sore and took his weapons for spoil.'

When Beaumains reached the side of the damsel, she pulled up her horse
and turned upon him with flashing eyes and angry looks.

'What doest thou here?' she cried. 'Away from me--thou smellest of the
kitchen, knave! Pah! thy clothes are foul with grease and tallow! Dost
thou think to ride with me?'

'Lady,' said Beaumains, and he spoke full gently, 'my clothes may be
smirched, but my arm, I trust, is as strong to defend you as any that
is wrapped in silk.'

'Out upon thee, saucy churl!' she cried. 'Thinkest thou I should allow
for that knight whom you thrust from his horse but now? Nay, not a whit
do I, for thou didst strike him foully and like a coward! I know thee
well, for Sir Kay named you. Beaumains you are, dainty of hands and of
eating, like a spoilt page. Get thee gone, thou turner of spits and
washer of greasy dishes!'

But for all that she raved, Beaumains would not reply in angry words,
though his heart burned within him.

'Damsel,' said he courteously, 'ye may say what ye will to me, but I
will not go from you whatever you say. I have given my promise to King
Arthur that I will achieve this adventure for you, and that will I do
or die in the trial of it.'

The girl laughed mockingly.

'_You_ will finish my adventure--_you_ will come to our aid!' she cried
in scorn. 'Fie on thee, thou upstart kitchen page! But if you will not
go from me, then come, fool, and I shall see thee quickly shamed. Thou
art proud with the too good living thou hadst in Arthur's kitchen, but
one I know whose face thou wilt not dare to look into, my knight of the
kitchen!'

So saying, she pushed on her horse, and thus in silence they went on
together.

In a little while they came to a dark wood, and suddenly as they rode,
a man with white scared face started from behind a bush and ran to the
side of Beaumains.

'Go not that way, sir knight,' he said, 'for there be six knaves who
have taken my lord and bound him, a