"We must soon find place for food," remarked Sir Percival and lustily
they all agreed.

"See you castle beyond yonder crossroads?" questioned Sir Neil, "Sir
Manstor lives there with his three brothers. Right skillful knights
are these but woe the lone stranger who passes by. For these are
villainous four."

"Right bitterly do you speak of them, Neil," remarked Sir Launcelot.
"And why?"

"I pray fortune to permit me to meet with this Manstor. I stopped
there for food one day. Then did this knight, his brothers by his
side, demand the bag of gold I carried with me. Nor would single one
among them battle with me. It would have fared ill with me but for two
knights who passing by, came to my aid."

"Our vow," said Sir Launcelot thoughtfully, "is to find Sir Tristram.
Yet can I see no harm in straying from our way an hour or two, can
you, Percival?"

"Not if there is promise of such entertainment as this," was the
reply.

"These knights," interrupted Sir Neil, "have stomach for neither joust
nor other encounter when the odds are not with them. Nor will they
venture to impede our way unless we number less than they."

"If greater or equal number withholds them," said Sir Dagonet. "I