Part 12 (1/2)

”Truly, I often wonder, good Dagonet, wherefore they call you a fool,”

spoke Sir Launcelot. ”Here comes this thought of yours that could come only from the wisest man or the greatest fool. Often, I wonder which you are.”

”Yet good Launcelot, since I am I, I know which of these I am. What sooth, what matters it, which you and all of these,” and Sir Dagonet pointed to the others with them, ”which you think me? If it pleases all of you, it pleases me to be a fool. Howsoever, it is ill wind that does not blow some good and here we have Sir Tristram who is not in Ireland though I had reason for believing him there.”

”Faith, friend, and I had but decided that I would journey henceward within two days,” replied Sir Tristram wonderingly.

”See you then, Launcelot. I made but a fool's guess. Had I been a wise man I would not have been two days ahead of Sir Tristram.”

Now Sir Tristram who knew the way advised silence. For they were nearing the great castle walls. When they came thereto they found the gates closed and the drawbridge up.

Then did Sir Tristram make call to those within. And these mistaking this for the party that had gone therefrom hastened to obey and lowered the drawbridge and unlocked the gates. And then found themselves facing strange knights, a strange party. And of all of them they only recognized Sir Tristram.

Then would they have made great ado to close the gates but it was too late.

”Tell you all within these gates, that we shall treat none harshly except those who would make trouble.”

So when Sir Percival's party was safely esconced, Sir Tristram left them for a few moments. A few moments that lasted into the half hour.

For he went to see his lady love who was even then with the queen.

Nor did the queen treat him as harshly as she might have. Perhaps this was because she felt that they were safe as long as this nephew was with these intruders. Or perhaps she had not favored the ill treatment by her royal spouse of so brave a knight.

And if King Mark and his men had been surprised to find the bird flown, imagine then what must have been their thoughts when they returned and found that they could not enter their own gates. That the bird was there and was shouting defiance at them. And worse yet, that in these shouts of defiance there was laughter and taunt and jest at their expense.

”What now?” asked the cruel and crafty king.

Nor could one of his men tell him.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

To The Rescue

”Methinks,” said King Arthur on the fourth day of their journey into Scotland that we will not find this Sir Tristram. What say you Gawaine?”

”Only that I cannot find it in me to do aught but agree with you,” the latter made reply. ”And I advise that we return, for had Tristram made his journey hitherward we should long ago have had inkling of it.”

”So then, we return today, friends,” Arthur announced to his knights.

”We have it in us to hope that Percival and Launcelot have had better fortune than we.”

And none loath, the party joyously made preparations for return. It had been an eventless search for the brave knight, Tristram, and these men hated inactivity.

”What say you, to sending someone of us to Cadoris announcing that we shall pay him a visit of not more than a day?” So queried the king.

”If there is promise of joust and adventure there,” said Pellimore. ”I for one can see no harm therein. What matters a day more or less?”

The other knights agreed with Pellimore and as Gawaine pointed out, it was not more than but few leagues from their returnward way.

So the party having first sent Sir Gilbert before them to herald their approach arrived at the court of Cadoris, king of Scotland. And never was king or knights more royally received than was Arthur and his men.

Of a truth, there was warm affection for Arthur, and Cadoris and his knights, though they held great rivalry, for the Knights of the Round Table had ever proven honest and worthy opponents.