fair and still； and the river ran lowly and slowly； as it were
full of gentleness； and Flumen had amended him of his evil
ways。 But full of craft and guile was that false foe。 For
now that the gates were firm and strong； he found a way down
through the corner of the dam； where a water…rat had burrowed；
and there the water went seeping and creeping； gnawing ever at
the hidden breach。 Presently in the night came a mizzling rain；
and far among the hills a cloud brake open； and the mill…pond
flowed over and under； and the dam crumbled away； and the Mill
shook； and the whole river ran roaring through the garden。
Then was Martimor wonderly wroth； because the river had
blotted out the Maid's flowers。 〃And one day；〃 she cried；
holding fast to him and trembling； 〃one day Flumen will have
me； when thou art gone。〃
〃Not so；〃 said he； 〃by the faith of my body that foul
fiend shall never have thee。 I will bind him； I will compel
him； or die in the deed。〃
So he went forth； upward along the river； till he came to
a strait Place among the hills。 There was a great rock full
of caves and hollows； and there the water whirled and burbled
in furious wise。 〃Here；〃 thought he； 〃is the hold of the
knave Flumen； and if I may cut through above this rock and
make a dyke with a gate in it； to let down the water another
way when the floods come； so shall I spoil him of his craft
and put him to the worse。〃
Then he toiled day and night to make the dyke； and ever by
night Flumen came and strove with him； and did his power to
cast him down and strangle him。 But Martimor stood fast and
drave him back。
And at last； as they wrestled and whapped together； they
fell headlong in the stream。
〃Ho…o！〃 shouted Flumen； 〃now will I drown thee； and mar
the Mill and the Maid。〃
But Martimor gripped him by the neck and thrust his head
betwixt the leaves of the gate and shut them fast； so that his
eyes stood out like gobbets of foam； and his black tongue hung
from his mouth like a water…weed。
〃Now shalt thou swear never to mar Mill nor Maid； but
meekly to serve them；〃 cried Martimor。 Then Flumen sware by
wind and wave； by storm and stream； by rain and river； by pond
and pool； by flood and fountain； by dyke and dam。
〃These be changeable things；〃 said Martimor； swear by the
Name of God。〃
So he sware； and even as the Name passed his teeth； the
gobbets of foam floated forth from the gate； and the water…weed
writhed away with the stream； and the river flowed fair and
softly； with a sound like singing。
Then Martimor came back to the Mill； and told how Flumen
was overcome and made to swear a pact。 Thus their hearts
waxed light and jolly； and they kept that day as it were a
love…day。
VII
How Martimor Bled for a Lady and Lived for a Maid；
and how His Great Adventure Ended and Began at the Mill
Now leave we of the Mill and Martimor and the Maid； and let us
speak of a certain Lady； passing tall and fair and young。
This was the Lady Beauvivante； that was daughter to King
Pellinore。 And three false knights took her by craft from her
father's court and led her away to work their will on her。
But she escaped from them as they slept by a well； and came
riding on a white palfrey； over hill and dale； as fast as ever
she could drive。
Thus she came to the Mill； and her palfrey was spent； and
there she took refuge； beseeching Martimor that he would hide
her； and defend her from those caitiff knights that must soon
follow。
〃Of hiding；〃 said he； 〃will I hear naught； but of
defending am I full fain。 For this have I waited。〃
Then he made ready his horse and his armour； and took both
spear and sword； and stood forth in the bridge。 Now this
bridge was strait； so that none could pass there but singly；
and that not till Martimor yielded or was beaten down。
Then came the three knights that followed the Lady； riding
fiercely down the hill。 And when they came about ten
spear…lengths from the bridge； they halted； and stood still as
it had been a plump of wood。 One rode in black； and one rode
in yellow； and the third rode in black and yellow。 So they
cried Martimor that he should give them passage； for they
followed a quest。
〃Passage takes； who passage makes！〃 cried Martimor。
〃Right well I know your quest； and it is a foul one。〃
Then the knight in black rode at him lightly；
but Martimor encountered him with the spear and smote him
backward from his horse； that his head struck the coping of
the bridge and brake his neck。 Then came the knight in
yellow； walloping heavily； and him the spear pierced through
the midst of the body and burst in three pieces： so he fell on
his back and the life went out of him； but the spear stuck
fast and stood up from his breast as a stake。
Then the knight in black and yellow； that was as big as
both his brethren； gave a terrible shout； and rode at Martimor
like a wood lion。 But he fended with his shield that the
spear went aside； and they clapped together like thunder； and
both horses were overthrown。 And lightly they avoided their
horses and rushed together； tracing； rasing； and foining。
Such strokes they gave that great pieces were clipped away
from their hauberks； and their helms； and they staggered to
and fro like drunken men。 Then they hurtled together like
rams and each battered other the wind out of his body。 So
they sat either on one side of the bridge； to take their
breath； glaring the one at the other as two owls。 Then they
stepped together and fought freshly； smiting and thrusting；
ramping and reeling； panting； snorting； and scattering blood； for
the space of two hours。 So the knight in black and yellow；
because he was heavier； drave Martimor backward step by step till
he came to the crown of the bridge； and there fell grovelling。
At this the Lady Beauvivante shrieked and wailed； but the damsel
Lirette cried loudly； 〃Up！ Martimor； strike again！〃
Then the courage came into his body； and with a great
might he abraid upon his feet； and smote the black and yellow
knight upon the helm by an overstroke so fierce that the sword
sheared away the third part of his head； as it had been a
rotten cheese。 So he lay upon the bridge； and the blood ran
out of him。 And Martimor smote off the rest of his head
quite； and cast it into the river。 Likewise did he with the
other twain that lay dead beyond the bridge。 And he cried to
Flumen； 〃Hide me these black eggs that hatched evil thoughts。〃
So the river bore them away。
Then Martimor came into the Mill； all for…bled；
〃Now are ye free； lady；〃 he cried； and fell down in a swoon。
Then the Lady and the Maid wept full sore and made great dole
and unlaced his helm； and Lirette cherished him tenderly to
recover his life。
So while they were thus busied and distressed； came Sir
Lancelot with a great company of knights and squires riding
for to rescue the princess。 When he came to the bridge all
bedashed with blood； and the bodies of the knights headless；
〃Now； by my lady's name；〃 said he； 〃here has been good
fighting； and those three caitiffs are slain！ By whose hand
I wonder？〃
So he came into the Mill； and there he found Martimor
recovered of his swoon； and had marvellous joy of him； when he
heard how he had wrought。
〃Now are thou proven worthy of the noble order of
knighthood；〃 said Lancelot； and forthwith he dubbed him
knight。
Then he said that Sir Martimor should ride with him to the
court of King Pellinore； to receive a castle and a fair lady
to wife； for doubtless the King would deny him nothing to reward
the rescue of his daughter。
But Martimor stood in a muse； then said he； 〃May a knight
have his free will and choice of castles； where he will
abide？〃
〃Within the law；〃 said Lancelot； 〃and by the King's word
he may。〃
〃Then choose I the Mill；〃 said Martimor； 〃for here will I
dwell。〃
〃Freely spoken；〃 said Lancelot； laughing； 〃so art thou Sir
Martimor of the Mill； no doubt the King will confirm it。 And
now what sayest thou of ladies？〃
〃May a knight have his free will and choice here also？〃
said he。
〃According to his fortune；〃 said Lancelot； 〃and by the
lady's favour； he may。〃
〃Well； then；〃 said Sir Martimor； taking Lirette by the
hand； 〃this Maid is to me liefer to have and to wield as my
wife than any dame or princess that is christened。〃
〃What； brother；〃 said Sir Lancelot； 〃is the wind in that
quarter？ And will the Maid have thee？〃
〃I will well；〃 said Lirette。
〃Now are you well provided；〃 said Sir Lancelot； 〃with
knighthood； and a castle； and a lady。 Lacks but a motto and
a name for the Blue Flower in thy shield。〃
〃He that names it shall never find it；〃 said Sir Martimor；
〃and he that finds it needs no name。〃
So Lirette rejoiced Sir Martimor and loved together during
their life…days； and this is the end and the beginning of the
Story of the Mill。
SPY ROCK
I
It must have been near Sutherland's Pond that I lost the way。
For there the deserted road which I had been following through
the Highlands ran out upon a meadow all abloom with purple
loose…strife and golden Saint…John's wort。 The declining sun
cast a glory over the lonely field； and far in the corner；
nigh to the woods； there was a touch of the celestial colour：
blue of the sky seen between white clouds： blue of the sea
shimmering through faint drifts of silver mist。 The hope of
finding that hue of distance and mystery embodied in a living
form； the old hope of discovering the Blue Flower rose again
in my heart。 But it was only for a moment； for when I came
nearer I saw that the colour which had caught my eye came from
a multitude of closed gentiansthe blossoms which never open
into perfectiongrowing so closely together that their
blended promise had seemed like a single flower。
So I harked back again； slanting across the meadow； to
find the road。 But it had vanished。 Wandering among the
alders and clumps of gray birches； here and there I found a
track that looked like it； but as I tried each one； it grew
more faint and uncertain and at last came to nothing in a
thicket or a marsh。 While I was thus beating about the bush
the sun dropped below the western rim of hills。 It was
necessa