ame another flood and brake the
second gate. And when that was mended there came another flood and brake
the third gate. So when all three were mended firm and fast, being bound
with iron, still the grimly river hurled over the dam, and the voice
of Flumen muttered in the dark of winter nights, "Yet will I
mar--mar--mar--yet will I mar Mill and Maid."

"Oho!" said Martimor, "this is a durable and dogged knave. Art thou
feared of him Lirette?"

"Not so," said she, "for thou art stronger. But fear have I of the day
when thou ridest forth in thy quest."

"Well, as to that," said he, "when I have overcome this false devil
Flumen, then will we consider and appoint that day."

So the delay continued, and Martimor was both busy and happy at the
Mill, for he liked and loved this damsel well, and was fain of her
company. Moreover the strife with Flumen was great joy to him.

VI

How the Month of May came to the Mill, and the Delay was Made Longer

Now when the month of May came to the Mill it brought a plenty of sweet
flowers, and Lirette wrought in the garden. With her, when the day was
spent and the sun rested upon the edge of the hill, went Martimor, and
she showed him all her flowers that were blue. But none of them was like
the flower on his shield.

"Is it this?" she cried, giving him a violet. "Too dark," said he.

"Then here it is," she said, plucking a posy of forget-me-not.

"Too light," said he.

"Surely this is it," and she brought him a spray of blue-bells.

"Too slender," said he, "and well I ween that I may not find that
flower, till I ride farther in my quest and achieve great adventure."

Then was the Maid cast down, and Martimor was fain to comfort her.

So while they walked thus in the garden, the days were fair and still,
and the river ran lowly and slowly, as it were full of gentleness, and
Flumen had amended him of his evil ways. But full of craft and guile was
that false foe. For now that the gates were firm and strong, he found a
way down through the corner of the dam, where a water-rat had burrowed,
and there the water went seeping and creeping, gnawing ever at the
hidden breach. Presently in the night came a mizzling rain, and far
among the hills a cloud brake open, and the mill-pond flowed over and
under, and the dam crumbled away, and the Mill shook, and the whole
river ran roaring through the garden.

Then was Martimor wonderly wroth, because the river had blotted out
the Maid's