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Page 27
The knights began to think that their mission was a difficult one; but
they rode on, asking at every house: "Is there a good boy here?" only to
be disappointed many times.
North, south, east, and west, they searched; and at last, one afternoon,
they halted under an oak tree, to talk, and they decided to part
company.
"Let each take his own way," said Tristram the True, "and to-morrow we
will meet, under this same tree, and tell what we have seen; for the
time draws near when we must return to the king."
Then they bade each other farewell, and each rode away, except Sir
Tristram, who lingered long under the oak tree; for he was the leader,
and had many things to think about.
Just as the sun was red in the west, he saw a little boy coming towards
him, with a bundle of sticks on his back.
"Greeting to you, little boy," said he.
"Greeting to you, fair sir," said the boy, looking up with eager eyes at
the knight on his splendid horse, that stood so still when the knight
bade it.
"What is your name?" asked the knight.
"My name is little Gauvain," replied the child.
"And can you prove a trusty guide, little Gauvain, and lead me to a
pleasant place where I may rest to-night?" asked the knight.
"Ay, that I can," Gauvain answered gladly, his whole face lighting up
with pleasure; but he added quickly, "I can, if you will wait until I
carry my sticks to Granny Slowsteps, and bring her water from the
spring; for I promised to be there before the setting of the sun."
Now little Gauvain wanted to help the good knight so much that he was
sorry to say this; but Sir Tristram told him to run, and promised to
wait patiently until his return; and before many moments Gauvain was
back, bounding like a fawn through the wood, to lead the way to his own
home.
When they came there the little dog ran out to meet them, and the cat
rubbed up against Gauvain, and the mother called from the kitchen:--
"Is that my sunbeam coming home to roost?" which made Gauvain and the
knight both laugh.
Then the mother came out in haste to welcome the stranger; and she
treated him with honor, giving him the best place at the table and the
hottest cakes.
She and little Gauvain lived all alone, for the father had gone to the
wars when Gauvain was a baby, and had died fighting for the king.
She had cows, horses, and pigs, hens, chickens, and a dog and a cat, and
one treasure greater than a kingdom, for she had a good child in her
house.
Sir Tristram found this out very soon, for little Gauvain ran when he
was called, remembered the cat and dog when he had eaten his own supper,
and went to bed when he was told, without fretting, although the knight
was telling of lions and bears and battles, and everything that little
boys like to hear about.
Sir Tristram was so glad of this that he could scarcely wait for the
time to come when he should meet his comrades under the oak tree.
[Illustration: And the mother called from the kitchen--'Is that my
sunbeam coming home to roost?']
"I have found a child whom you must see," he said, as soon as they
came together.
"And so have I," cried Gerald the Glad.
"And I," exclaimed Kenneth the Kind.
"And I," said Brian the Brave.
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