"I know not who he is," saith the knight, "But and you go forward you are sure to find him." "Meseemeth," saith Messire Gawain, "that I have seen you aforetime." "Sir," saith he, "So have you! I am the Knight Coward that you met in the forest there where you conquered the knight of the shield party black and white, and I am man of the Damsel of the Car. Wherefore I pray you for God's sake that you do me no hurt, for the knight that I found down yonder hath a look so fierce that I thought I was dead when I saw it." "Need you fear nought of me," saith Messire Gawain, "For I love your damsel well." "Sir," saith the knight, "I would that all the other knights would say as much in respect of me, for no fear have I save for myself alone." II. Messire Gawain departeth from the knight, and goeth his way amidst the forest that overshadowed the land as far as the seashore, and looketh forth from the top of a sand-hill, and seeth a knight armed on a tall destrier, and he had a shield of gold with a green cross. "Ha, God," saith Messire Gawain, "Grant that this knight may be able to tell me tidings of him I seek!" Thitherward goeth he a great gallop, and saluteth him worshipfully and he him again. "Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "Can you tell me tidings of a knight that beareth a shield banded of argent and azure with a red cross?" "Yea, Sir," saith the knight, "That can I well. At the assembly of the knights may you find him within forty days." "Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "Where will the assembly be?" "In the Red Launde, where will be many a good knight. There shall you find him without fail." Thereof hath Messire Gawain right great joy, and so departeth from the knight and the knight from him, and goeth back toward the sea a great gallop. But Messire Gawain saw not the ship whereinto he entered, for that it was anchored underneath the cliff. The knight entered thereinto and put out to sea as he had wont to do. Howbeit Messire Gawain goeth his way toward the Red Launde where the assembly was to be, and desireth much the day that it shall be. He rideth until he cometh one eventide nigh to a castle that was of right fair seeming. He met a damsel that was following after a dead knight that two other knights bare upon a horse-bier, and she rode a great pace right amidst the forest. And Messire Gawain cometh to meet her and saluteth her, and she returned the salute as fairly as she might. "Damsel," saith Messire Gawain, "Who lieth in this bier?" "Sir, a knight that a certain man hath slain by great outrage." "And whither shall you ride this day?" "Sir, I would fain be in the Red Launde, and thither will I take this knight, that was a right worshipful man for his age." "And wherefore will you take him there?" saith Messire Gawain. "For that he that shall do best at the assembly of knights shall avenge this knight's death." III.