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father's court and led her away to work their will on her。
But she escaped from them as they slept by a well； and came
riding on a white palfrey； over hill and dale； as fast as ever
she could drive。
Thus she came to the Mill； and her palfrey was spent； and
there she took refuge； beseeching Martimor that he would hide
her； and defend her from those caitiff knights that must soon
follow。
〃Of hiding；〃 said he； 〃will I hear naught； but of
defending am I full fain。 For this have I waited。〃
Then he made ready his horse and his armour； and took both
spear and sword； and stood forth in the bridge。 Now this
bridge was strait； so that none could pass there but singly；
and that not till Martimor yielded or was beaten down。
Then came the three knights that followed the Lady； riding
fiercely down the hill。 And when they came about ten
spear…lengths from the bridge； they halted； and stood still as
it had been a plump of wood。 One rode in black； and one rode
in yellow； and the third rode in black and yellow。 So they
cried Martimor that he should give them passage； for they
followed a quest。
〃Passage takes； who passage makes！〃 cried Martimor。
〃Right well I know your quest； and it is a foul one。〃
Then the knight in black rode at him lightly；
but Martimor encountered him with the spear and smote him
backward from his horse； that his head struck the coping of
the bridge and brake his neck。 Then came the knight in
yellow； walloping heavily； and him the spear pierced through
the midst of the body and burst in three pieces： so he fell on
his back and the life went out of him； but the spear stuck
fast and stood up from his breast as a stake。
Then the knight in black and yellow； that was as big as
both his brethren； gave a terrible shout； and rode at Martimor
like a wood lion。 But he fended with his shield that the
spear went aside； and they clapped together like thunder； and
both horses were overthrown。 And lightly they avoided their
horses and rushed together； tracing； rasing； and foining。
Such strokes they gave that great pieces were clipped away
from their hauberks； and their helms； and they staggered to
and fro like drunken men。 Then they hurtled together like
rams and each battered other the wind out of his body。 So
they sat either on one side of the bridge； to take their
breath； glaring the one at the other as two owls。 Then they
stepped together and fought freshly； smiting and thrusting；
ramping and reeling； panting； snorting； and scattering blood； for
the space of two hours。 So the knight in black and yellow；
because he was heavier； drave Martimor backward step by step till
he came to the crown of the bridge； and there fell grovelling。
At this the Lady Beauvivante shrieked and wailed； but the damsel
Lirette cried loudly； 〃Up！ Martimor； strike again！〃
Then the courage came into his body； and with a great
might he abraid upon his feet； and smote the black and yellow
knight upon the helm by an overstroke so fierce that the sword
sheared away the third part of his head； as it had been a
rotten cheese。 So he lay upon the bridge； and the blood ran
out of him。 And Martimor smote off the rest of his head
quite； and cast it into the river。 Likewise did he with the
other twain that lay dead beyond the bridge。 And he cried to
Flumen； 〃Hide me these black eggs that hatched evil thoughts。〃
So the river bore them away。
Then Martimor came into the Mill； all for…bled；
〃Now are ye free； lady；〃 he cried； and fell down in a swoon。
Then the Lady and the Maid wept full sore and made great dole
and unlaced his helm； and Lirette cherished him tenderly to
recover his life。
So while they were thus busied and distressed； came Sir
Lancelot with a great company of knights and squires riding
for to rescue the princess。 When he came to the bridge all
bedashed with blood； and the bodies of the knights headless；
〃Now； by my lady's name；〃 said he； 〃here has been good
fighting； and those three caitiffs are slain！ By whose hand
I wonder？〃
So he came into the Mill； and there he found Martimor
recovered of his swoon； and had marvellous joy of him； when he
heard how he had wrought。
〃Now are thou proven worthy of the noble order of
knighthood；〃 said Lancelot； and forthwith he dubbed him
knight。
Then he said that Sir Martimor should ride with him to the
court of King Pellinore； to receive a castle and a fair lady
to wife； for doubtless the King would deny him nothing to reward
the rescue of his daughter。
But Martimor stood in a muse； then said he； 〃May a knight
have his free will and choice of castles； where he will
abide？〃
〃Within the law；〃 said Lancelot； 〃and by the King's word
he may。〃
〃Then choose I the Mill；〃 said Martimor； 〃for here will I
dwell。〃
〃Freely spoken；〃 said Lancelot； laughing； 〃so art thou Sir
Martimor of the Mill； no doubt the King will confirm it。 And
now what sayest thou of ladies？〃
〃May a knight have his free will and choice here also？〃
said he。
〃According to his fortune；〃 said Lancelot； 〃and by the
lady's favour； he may。〃
〃Well； then；〃 said Sir Martimor； taking Lirette by the
hand； 〃this Maid is to me liefer to have and to wield as my
wife than any dame or princess that is christened。〃
〃What； brother；〃 said Sir Lancelot； 〃is the wind in that
quarter？ And will the Maid have thee？〃
〃I will well；〃 said Lirette。
〃Now are you well provided；〃 said Sir Lancelot； 〃with
knighthood； and a castle； and a lady。 Lacks but a motto and
a name for the Blue Flower in thy shield。〃
〃He that names it shall never find it；〃 said Sir Martimor；
〃and he that finds it needs no name。〃
So Lirette rejoiced Sir Martimor and loved together during
their life…days； and this is the end and the beginning of the
Story of the Mill。
SPY ROCK
I
It must have been near Sutherland's Pond that I lost the way。
For there the deserted road which I had been following through
the Highlands ran out upon a meadow all abloom with purple
loose…strife and golden Saint…John's wort。 The declining sun
cast a glory over the lonely field； and far in the corner；
nigh to the woods； there was a touch of the celestial colour：
blue of the sky seen between white clouds： blue of the sea
shimmering through faint drifts of silver mist。 The hope of
finding that hue of distance and mystery embodied in a living
form； the old hope of discovering the Blue Flower rose again
in my heart。 But it was only for a moment； for when I came
nearer I saw that the colour which had caught my eye came from
a multitude of closed gentiansthe blossoms which never open
into perfectiongrowing so closely together that their
blended promise had seemed like a single flower。
So I harked back again； slanting across the meadow； to
find the road。 But it had vanished。 Wandering among the
alders and clumps of gray birches； here and there I found a
track that looked like it； but as I tried each one； it grew
more faint and uncertain and at last came to nothing in a
thicket or a marsh。 While I was thus beating about the bush
the sun dropped below the western rim of hills。 It was
necessary to make the most of the lingering light； if I did
not wish to be benighted in the woods。 The little village of
Canterbury； which was the goal of my day's march； must lie
about to the north just beyond the edge of the mountain； and
in that direction I turned； pushing forward as rapidly as
possible through the undergrowth。
Presently I came into a region where the trees were larger
and the travelling was easier。 It was not a primeval forest；
but a second growth of chestnuts and poplars and maples。
Through the woods there ran at intervals long lines of broken
rock； covered with mossthe ruins； evidently； of ancient
stone fences。 The land must have been； in former days； a
farm； inhabited； cultivated； the home of human
hopes and desires and labours； but now relapsed into solitude
and wilderness。 What could the life have been among these
rugged and inhospitable Highlands； on this niggard and
reluctant soil？ Where was the house that once sheltered the
tillers of this rude corner of the earth？
Here； perhaps； in the little clearing into which I now
emerged。 A couple of decrepit apple…trees grew on the edge of
it； and dropped their scanty and gnarled fruit to feast the
squirrels。 A little farther on； a straggling clump of ancient
lilacs； a bewildered old bush of sweetbrier； the dark…green
leaves of a cluster of tiger…lilies； long past blooming；
marked the grave of the garden。 And here； above this square
hollow in the earth； with the remains of a crumbling chimney
standing sentinel beside it； here the house must have stood。
What joys； what sorrows once centred around this cold and
desolate hearth…stone？ What children went forth like birds
from this dismantled nest into the wide world？ What guests
found refuge
〃Take care！ stand back！ There is a rattlesnake in the old
cellar。〃
The voice； even more than the words； startled me。 I drew
away suddenly； and saw； behind the ruins of the chimney； a man
of an aspect so striking that to this day his face and figure
are as vivid in my memory as if it were but yesterday that I
had me