"That shall I do right gladly, for I like the youth and his kindly
ways. I give you my promise to give him by such example as I may set
and in other ways the meaning of knighthood worthy of the search for
the Holy Grail."

"I wish you good fortune, Gareth, and that you overcome this knight of
the Red Lawns. If you should need aid at any time, I promise I will
come if I get word, no matter how distant you may be."

"I know that," said Gareth soberly. So then they sat for many moments
each thinking of many things. Until at last it was time for them to
separate.

Allan had returned a little while before. He had already heard who the
kitchen boy was and how he had been dubbed knight by Sir Launcelot. It
had been a day of events for him, too. Walker, who had made the
journey with him had talked with him of many things.

"This world is large," Walker had said.

"Soon," Allan had said, "I shall go forth and find out for myself just
how large it is."

"Aye, lad," was Walker's reply, "if you travel all the years you live
I doubt if you could see half of it. Far to the southeast is Rome and
there are many lands one must pass before he reaches there. And to the
northeast live the Norse and the Dane and other tribes equally wild
and fierce. Then there are many seas, which I have heard tell are
bigger than the sea of Cornwall, which I know well. And west of us,
there is Ireland and beyond that the world ends."