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was Flumen； for he dwelt in the caves of the stream； and was
the master of it before the Mill was built。
〃And now；〃 wept the Maid； 〃he must have had his will with
me and with the Mill； but for God's mercy； thanked be our Lord
Jesus！〃
〃Thank me too；〃 said Mlartimor。
〃So I do；〃 said Lirette； and she kissed him。 〃Yet am I
heavy at heart and fearful； for my father is sorely mishandled
and his arm is broken； so that he cannot tend the Mill nor
guard it。 And Flumen is escaped； surely he will harm us
again。 Now I know not； where I shall look for help。〃
〃Why not here？〃 said Martimor。
Then Lirette looked him in the face； smiling a little
sorrily。 〃But thou ridest in a quest；〃 quoth she； 〃thou mayst
not stay from thy adventures〃
〃A month；〃 said he。
〃Till my father be well？〃 said she。
〃A month；〃 said he。
〃Till thou hast put Flumen to the worse？〃 said she。
〃Right willingly would I have to do with that base；
slippery knave again〃 said he； 〃but more than a month I may
not stay； for my quest calls me and I must win worship of men
or ever I become a knight。〃
So they bound up the miller's wounds and set the Mill in
order。 But Martimor had much to do to learn the working of
the Mill； and they were busied with the grinding of wheat and
rye and barley and divers kinds of grain； and the millers
hurts were mended every day； and at night there was merry rest
and good cheer； and Martimor talked with the Maid of the great
adventure that he must find； and thus the delay endured in
pleasant wise。
THE MILL
V
Yet More of the Mill； and of the Same Delay； also of the Maid
Now at the end of the third month； which was November；
Martimor made Lirette to understand that it was high time he
should ride farther to follow his quest。 For the miller was
now recovered； and it was long that they had heard and seen
naught of Flumen； and doubtless that black knave was well
routed and dismayed that he would not come again。 Lirette
prayed him and desired him that he would tarry yet one week。
But Martimor said； No！ for his adventures were before him； and
that he could not be happy save in the doing of great deeds
and the winning of knightly fame。 Then he showed her the Blue
Flower in his shield that was nameless； and told her how Sir
Lancelot had said that he must find it； then should he name it
and have both crest and motto。
〃Does it grow in my garden？〃 said Lirette。
〃I have not seen it；〃 said he； 〃and now the flowers are
all faded。〃
〃Perhaps in the month of May？〃 said she。
〃In that month I will come again；〃 said he； 〃for by that
time it may fortune that I shall achieve my quest； but now
forth must I fare。〃
So there was sad cheer in the Mill that day； and at night
there came a fierce storm with howling wind and plumping rain；
and Martimor slept ill。 About the break of day he was wakened
by a great roaring and pounding； then he looked out of window；
and saw the river in flood； with black waves spuming and
raving； like wood beasts； and driving before them great logs
and broken trees。 Thus the river hurled and hammered at the
mill…dam so that it trembled； and the logs leaped as they
would spring over it； and the voice of Flumen shouted hoarsely
and hungrily； 〃Yet will I mar the Mill and have the Maid！〃
Then Martimor ran with the miller out upon the dam； and
they laboured at the gates that held the river back； and
thrust away the logs that were heaped over them； and cut with
axes； and fought with the river。 So at last two of the gates
were lifted and one was broken； and the flood ran down
ramping and roaring in great raundon； and as it ran the black
face of Flumen sprang above it； crying； 〃Yet will I mar both
Mill and Maid。〃
〃That shalt thou never do；〃 cried Martimor； 〃by foul or
fair； while the life beats in my body。〃
So he came back with the miller into the Mill； and there
was meat ready for them and they ate strongly and with good
heart。 〃Now；〃 said the miller； 〃must I mend the gate。 But
how it may be done； I know not； for surely this will be great
travail for a man alone。〃
〃Why alone？〃 said Martimor。
〃Thou wilt stay； then？〃 said Lirette。
〃Yea；〃 said he。
〃For another month？〃 said she。
〃Till the gate be mended；〃 said he。
But when the gate was mended there came 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
marmarmaryet 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 flowers。 〃And one day；〃 she cried；
holding fast to him and trembling； 〃one day Flumen will have
me； when thou art gone。〃
〃Not so；〃 said he； 〃by the faith of my body that foul
fiend shall never have thee。 I will bind him； I will compel
him； or die in the deed。〃
So he went forth； upward along the river； till he came to
a strait Place among the hills。 There was a great rock full
of caves and hollows； and there the water whirled and burbled
in furious wise。 〃Here；〃 thought he； 〃is the hold of the
knave Flumen； and if I may cut through above this rock and
make a dyke with a gate in it； to let down the water another
way when the floods come； so shall I spoil him of his craft
and put him to the worse。〃
Then he toiled day and night to make the dyke； and ever by
night Flumen came and strove with him； and did his power to
cast him down and strangle him。 But Martimor stood fast and
drave him back。
And at last； as they wrestled and whapped together； they
fell headlong in the stream。
〃Ho…o！〃 shouted Flumen； 〃now will I drown thee； and mar
the Mill and the Maid。〃
But Martimor gripped him by the neck and thrust his head
betwixt the leaves of the gate and shut them fast； so that his
eyes stood out like gobbets of foam； and his black tongue hung
from his mouth like a water…weed。
〃Now shalt thou swear never to mar Mill nor Maid； but
meekly to serve them；〃 cried Martimor。 Then Flumen sware by
wind and wave； by storm and stream； by rain and river； by pond
and pool； by flood and fountain； by dyke and dam。
〃These be changeable things；〃 said Martimor； swear by the
Name of God。〃
So he sware； and even as the Name passed his teeth； the
gobbets of foam floated forth from the gate； and the water…weed
writhed away with the stream； and the river flowed fair and
softly； with a sound like singing。
Then Martimor came back to the Mill； and told how Flumen
was overcome and made to swear a pact。 Thus their hearts
waxed light and jolly； and they kept that day as it were a
love…day。
VII
How Martimor Bled for a Lady and Lived for a Maid；
and how His Great Adventure Ended and Began at the Mill
Now leave we of the Mill and Martimor and the Maid； and let us
speak of a certain Lady； passing tall and fair and young。
This was the Lady Beauvivante； that was daughter to King
Pellinore。 And three false knights took her by craft from her
father's court and led her away to wor