e king was a man of marvellous strength and agility, and
for all Sir Geraint's knowledge and strength, the other's strokes were
so boldly fierce, so quick and powerful, that it was not long ere Sir
Geraint found he had need of great wariness.

Soon their helmets were cracked and their shields dented and carved and
their hauberks in rags, and hardly could they see between the bars of
their vizors for the sweat and blood in their eyes.

Then at last Sir Geraint, enraged that one so small should give him so
much trouble to conquer, gathered all his strength in one blow, so that
the little king was beaten to his knees, and the sword flew from his
hand ten yards away.

'I yield me!' cried King Griffith, 'and never have I fought with so
valiant and strong a knight. Have mercy and spare me, and I will be thy
man.'

'Be it so!' said Sir Geraint, 'but thou hast already sworn to be my
man.'

And he lifted up his vizor and showed his face, whereat the little king
did off his own helm quickly and came and kneeled humbly before him.

'Sir Geraint,' he said, 'forgive me my words concerning thee, but men
told me that ye had forgotten that you had once been so glorious a man,
and were softening to a fool.'

'Nay,' said Sir Geraint, 'they were the fools that said so. And now I
will depart, for I see these marches are in safe keeping in your hands,
fair king.'

But the little king wished Geraint to come to his castle to be rested
and healed of his wounds, and Geraint and Enid went and abode there a
few days. But ever Sir Geraint was cold and stern to his wife, for he
was still angry at her disbelief in him.

Sir Geraint would not stay longer, though his wounds were but half
healed, and on the third day he commanded Enid to mount her horse and
to go before him with the four other horses.

While the sun climbed up the sky they rode through the wilderness, by
tangled woods, deep valleys and quaking marshes, until they reached a
deep dark forest. Suddenly as they rode they heard a great wailing of
distress, and bidding Enid stay, Geraint dashed through the trees
towards the crying, and came out upon a great bare upland, and beside
the wood were a knight, dead in his armour, and two horses, one with a
woman's saddle upon it.

And looking further Geraint saw three small dark shaggy trolls making
swift way up the hill towards a great green mound, and in the arms of
one of them was a damsel, who shrieked as she was borne away.

F