The Adventures of Sir Gawain the True Read Online Free PDF Page A

other with their shields. At last, Sir Regal managed to knock Sir Reynold's shield from his grasp and, stooping quickly, Sir Regal picked it up and threw it like a discus into the castle's moat. Unfortunately, he had forgotten to put down his own shield before throwing, with the result that both shields splashed and sank into the murky water. The two knights watched until the last bubbles had disappeared, then turned to look at each other.
    "Take that!" shouted Sir Reynold, throwing a

    heavy punch at Sir Regal's head. "Owww!" he screamed as his fist bounced harmlessly from Sir Regal's helmet.
    Sensing an advantage, Sir Regal replied at once with his own punch. "Ouch!" Sir Regal shouted, holding his hand. Fists aren't designed for penetrating armor, either.
    The two knights circled each other for a moment, rubbing their bruised hands. Sir Gawain leaned close to Spinagras. "Tell me the truth, friend," he said. "Is all this, um, a little bit stupid?"
    Then Sir Regal seemed to have an idea. Dashing down to the moat, he took up a stone from the water's edge and threw it at Sir Reynold. It bounced harmlessly off Sir Reynold's shoulder. "Hey!" shouted Sir Reynold. Running to the moat he found his own stone and flung it at Sir Regal, but it missed because Sir Regal had already stooped to find another rock. Sir Reynold ran close and kicked water into Sir Regal's face, blinding him. Sir Regal lost the rock he had been about to take up, but he scooped up a handful of sand and gravel and threw it at Sir Reynold. It made a tinkling noise on the iron armor.

    "Stupid?" replied Spinagras. "Maybe a little bit."
    Now both knights were on their knees throwing gravel at each other with both hands as fast as they could. Sir Gawain closed his eyes. "Someone please make it stop," he moaned.
    King Arthur must have been thinking the same thing, because at that moment he strode onto the tournament field and called out firmly, "Enough! Both of you!" The two knights stopped splashing and throwing dirt. "This is no way to settle a dispute!" snapped the king.
    Spinagras snorted softly and muttered, almost too quietly to hear, "But hitting someone with a sword
is?
"
    Sir Regal spoke, his voice sulky. "All right, then. We'll have another go at it tomorrow, but this time my master, Sir Gologras, will come himself to fight, and Sir Gologras has never been defeated!"
    "Wait!" said Sir Reynold. "We may end this today, after all! Look!" He pointed at Sir Gandefere and Sir Goliot. Both had wakened and were slowly picking themselves up. They shook their heads groggily and looked around. Then they saw each other, let out a bellow of rage in unison, drew their swords as one, and bashed each other on the helmets. Both dropped to the ground like stones and lay there unmoving.
    "Never mind," said Sir Reynold.
    "Until tomorrow, then!" snapped Sir Regal. "You shall see what true knightly power is when you face Sir Gologras the Unconquered!"

Chapter 7
Sir Gawain the Once Defeated

    As soon as it became known that Sir Gologras would be representing himself the next day, then Sir Gawain knew he was going to have to fight. Who could King Arthur send to face Sir Gologras the Unconquered but Sir Gawain the Undefeated? Still, Sir Gawain tried to argue.
    "But, sire, I don't
want
to fight him," he explained. "I like Sir Gologras."
    "I understand, Gawain," the king replied, "but this is for the kingdom. If the people of Britain are ever to live in safety, then all must agree to support one ruler. If I let Sir Gologras refuse to swear loyalty, how can I expect the rest of the people to be true?"
    Sir Gawain sighed. "I know. But isn't there anyone else?"

    At this moment, King Arthur received some surprising support. Spinagras the dwarf had seemed scornful of the day's tournament, but now he spoke up in favor of the next day's battle. "You must send someone, Your Highness, but don't even think about sending anyone but Sir Gawain. Speaking as one who's seen Sir Gologras fight, I