arly, Beaumains and the lady were up and away while yet
the dew shone on the leaves. Soon they passed through a great forest
and approached a wide river. In a little while they rode down to where
a roughly paved way ran into the water, and, looking to the other bank,
Beaumains was aware of two knights on horseback, stationed as if to
hinder his passing the ford.

'Now, sir kitchen knight,' laughed the lady mockingly, 'what sayest
thou? Art thou a match for these two knights, or wilt thou not turn
back?'

'I would not turn if they were six,' replied Beaumains quietly.

With that he rushed, with spear at rest, into the ford, and one of the
waiting knights came swiftly against him. They met in the midst with so
great a shock that their spears were splintered. They then closed
fiercely with their swords, and hurtled about in the foaming, dashing
water, beating at each other. Suddenly Beaumains struck the other so
hard a stroke on his helm that he was stunned, and fell from his horse
into the stream, which whirled him away into the deeps, and there
drowned him.

Then Beaumains rode swiftly towards the other knight, who with his
lance dashed against him. But Beaumains parried the spear stroke, and
with one great heave of his sword, clove the other's helm in twain, so
that the knight fell like a stone.

'Alas!' cried the lady, as she came across the ford, 'that ever kitchen
knave should have the mishap to slay two such noble knights! Doubtless
thou thinkest thou hast done mightily, sir knight of the turnspit, but
I saw well how it all happened. The first knight's horse stumbled on
the stones of the ford, and the other thou didst stab from behind.
'Twas a shameful deed!'

'Damsel,' said Beaumains, quiet in words though hot of mind at her
words, 'ye may say what ye will. I only know that I fight fairly, as
God gives me strength. I reck not what ye say, so I win your lady
sister from her oppressor.'

'Thou knave of impudence!' cried the lady. 'Thee to speak of winning my
lady sister, high of rank and rich in wide lands as she is! But thou
shalt soon see knights that shall abate thy pride.'

'Whatever knights they be, I care not, so that I win good words from
you at last,' said Beaumains.

'Those thou shalt never have, thou churl,' replied the lady scornfully.
'For all that thou hast done has been by chance and misadventure, and
not by the prowess of thy hands. But if thou wilt follow me, why, then,
come, and I shall t