gone far, he rushed upon him at the speed of his
horse, crying, in a voice of thunder,--

"Sir knight, defend yourself!"

This Tristram did with good effect, for his assailant's spear broke upon
his body, while he thrust him through and hurled him to the earth with a
mortal wound.

"Fool, you have brought it on yourself," said Tristram. "It is not my
fault if you got what you designed for me."

Then he rode on, and left the wounded knight to the care of his squire,
who removed his helmet, and asked if his life was in any danger.

"There is little life in me," said the knight, "and that is ebbing fast.
Therefore help me to my saddle, and mount behind me and hold me on so
that I shall not fall, and so bring me to Queen Morgan le Fay. For deep
draughts of death draw to my heart, and I would fain speak to her before
I die."

The squire did as commanded, and brought his bleeding master to the
castle, but he died as he entered the hall, falling lifeless at the feet
of the lady of his love. Much she wept and great lamentation she made
for his untimely fate, and buried him in a stately tomb, on which was
written, "Here lieth Sir Hemison, slain by the hands of Tristram de
Lyonesse."

On the next day Tristram arrived at the castle of Roche-dure, where he
saw the lists prepared for the tournament, with gay pennons flying,
while full five hundred tents were pitched in a fair meadow by the
gates. Over the seats of honor were silken canopies, that shaded noble
lords and beautiful ladies clad in gay apparel. Within the lists the
kings of Scotland and Ireland held out strongly against King Arthur's
knights, and dread was the noise and turmoil within.

Tristram at once joined in the fray, and smote down many knights; King
Arthur marvelling the while at the device on his shield, while Guenever
grew heavy at heart, for well she guessed its meaning.

Ever King Arthur's eye was on that shield, and much he wondered who the
knight could be, for he had heard that Tristram was in Brittany, and he
knew that Lancelot was in quest of him, while he knew no other knight of
equal prowess.

As the combat went on, Arthur's knights drove back their antagonists,
who began to withdraw from the field. On seeing this the king determined
that the knight with the strange shield should not escape, so he armed
and called Sir Uwaine, entering the lists with him and riding up to
confront the unknown knight.

"Sir stranger," said the king, "before w