nt here to make mischief by as foul a sorceress and witch
as the earth holds. She has always been an enemy to all true lovers and
sought to do them harm, and if we meet with Morgan le Fay she will get
but scant courtesy at our hands. We would much rather believe the horn
false than all our ladies untrue."

But Tristram's anger was turned towards Lamorak for this affront, for he
knew well what had been his purpose. And he vowed in his heart that he
would yet repay him for this treacherous act.

His affection for Queen Isolde kept as warm as though the love-draught
still flowed in his veins, and he sought her at every opportunity, for
the two greatest joys that life held for him were to tell her of his
love and hear from her lips that her love for him had never dimmed.

But his treacherous cousin Andred watched his every movement, and kept
the king advised that Tristram continued his secret interviews with the
queen. So an ambush of twelve knights was set, and one day, when
Tristram had just paid a stolen visit to the queen, and sat in loving
converse by her side, these ambushed knights broke suddenly upon him,
took him prisoner, and bound him hand and foot.

Then, by order of the king, he was borne to a chapel that stood on a
rocky height above the sea, where Andred and some others of the barons
who were his enemies came together to pass judgment upon him.

Tristram in all his life had never stood in such peril, for his hands
were bound fast to two knights, and forty others surrounded him, every
one a foe. Care had been taken to get rid of his friends among the
barons by sending them away from the court on various pretexts. Like a
lion surrounded by jackals he chafed in his bonds, while his great heart
swelled as if it would break. No escape seemed possible, but with a
reproachful voice he said,--

"Fair lords, I have in my time done something for Cornwall, and taken
upon myself great peril for your benefit. Who among you all was ready to
meet Sir Marhaus, or to cope with Palamides? Is this shameful death my
reward for my services to your country? You know well that I never met a
knight but that I was his match or his better."

"Boast not, false traitor," cried Andred. "For all thy vaunting, thou
shalt die this day."

"O Andred, Andred, that you my kinsman should treat me thus!" said
Tristram sorrowfully. "You can be bold when I am bound, but if there
were none here but you and me, you would crouch like a cur at