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Chapter XI
AndTristramcriedoutafterhim,“Aha!SirknightoftheRoundTable,dostthouwithdrawtheefromsoyoungaknight?itisashametotheeandallthykin;Iwouldratherhavebeenhewnintoahundredpiecesthanhavefledfromthee.”
ButSirMarhausanswerednothing,andsorelygroaningfledaway.
“Farewell,Sirknight,farewell,”laughedTristram,whoseownvoicenowwashoarseandfaintwithlossofblood;“Ihavethyswordandshieldinmysafekeeping,andwillweartheminallplaceswhereIrideonmyadventures,andbeforeKingArthurandtheTableRound.”
ThenwasSirMarhaustakenbacktoIrelandbyhiscompany;andassoonashearrivedhiswoundsweresearched,andwhentheysearchedhisheadtheyfoundthereinapieceofTristram’ssword;butalltheskillofsurgeonswasinvaintomoveitout.SoanonSirMarhausdied.
Butthequeen,hissister,tookthepieceofsword-bladeandputitsafelyby,forshethoughtthatsomedayitmighthelphertorevengeherbrother’sdeath.
Meanwhile,SirTristram,beingsorelywounded,satdownsoftlyonalittlemoundandbledpassingfast;andinthatevilcasewasfoundanonbyGovernaleandKingMark’sknights.Thentheygentlytookhimupandbroughthiminabargebacktotheland,andliftedhimintoabedwithinthecastle,andhadhiswoundsdressedcarefully.
Butforagreatwhilehelaysorelysick,andwaslikelytohavediedofthefirststrokeSirMarhaushadgivenhimwiththespear,forthepointofitwaspoisoned.
