After looking upon this barrier of knight and
horse most closely, Huon said to his brother:
"There is no reason for either of us to fear aught
of any man living, for we have no quarrels hang-
ing above our heads. You wear no armor, nor do
you bear a sword, so all can see that you ride in
peace with the world. Get you down now, into the
valley and ask of that knight what he would have
of us."
And Gerard obeyed his brother. Coming down
25
into the valley of the wood he reined in his mount
before the silent knight and addressed him boldly.
"Good sir, what do you wish of us who would
quarrel with no man this day? Know you, I am
Gerard of Bordeaux and yonder is my brother
Huon, Duke of that same city. We are bound, by
the King's own command, to the court of Char-
lemagne. Therefore stay us not, lest the justice of
the King demand an accounting from youў"
Now the masked knight was Prince Chariot,
the King's son. But he was not minded to speak
to Gerard his rightful name. Instead he answered
the boy despitefully and with much anger, saying:
"Rash youth, know you that I am son to Duke
Thierry, he who hath many times been injured by
those of your house. And now I am here to end all
his wrongs upon your bodiesўdoing to death you
and that proud cockerel who sits yonder daring
to name himself Duke of Bordeaux. The lands of
Bordeaux are by all rights mine!"
Gerard being warned by the anger of the
knight's speech would have then fled. But his
mount stumbled and Chariot bore down upon the
helpless youth, his lance in crouch.
Deep into Gerard's tender flesh struck the steel
so that he was borne from his horse and fell heav-
ily_upon the packed earth of the road, and from
his side there poured a thick flood of rich blood so
