Returning to King Rience the brothers would have killed him, but he cried, “Slay me not.  By my death you will win nothing, but by my life you may win.”

“That is so,” the two agreed:  and they made a litter, and Balan bore Rience to King Arthur, but Balin would not go to the court till he had done more for Arthur.

The tale of Balin’s deeds is too long for recital here, but it may be read in the book of King Arthur’s knights.  At last, after many days of wandering and many exciting combats, Balin saw by the roadside a cross upon which in letters of gold was written, “No man must ride to this castle alone.”

Then, too, an old man came toward him and said, “Balin le Savage, turn now before it is too late.  You have already passed the bounds of prudence.”  With these words the old man vanished, and Balin heard the blast of a horn, like that blown when a huntsman kills an animal.

“That blast,” said Balin to himself, “is for me, for I am the prize, yet am I not dead.”

As the echoes of the horn died away, Balin saw coming toward him a hundred knights and ladies:  who rode up to him and smilingly greeted him.

“Come with us to the castle,” said they, “and there shall be music and dancing and feasting and much joy.”

Balin followed them to the castle and was surprised at the good cheer that awaited him.  In the midst of the feast, when joy was at its height, the chief lady of the feast looked at Balin and said, “Knight with the two swords, no man may pass this way unless he fight with a knight who keeps an island near by.  Now must you joust with him.”

“That is an unhappy custom,” said Balin, “that a knight may not pass this way unless he fight.”

“You need to fight with but one man,” said the lady.

“Well,” said Balin, “if I must fight, then must I fight, but a traveling man and his horse are oft-times weary.  However, though my horse and my body are weary, my heart is not weary, and I will go where danger awaits me.”

“Sir,” said one of the knights to Balin, “it seems to me that your shield is not in good condition.  Take mine; it is a larger one, and you are quite welcome to it.”

So Balin took the strange shield and left his own, with his arms blazoned on it, at the castle, and rode forth to the island.  On his way he met a maid who called to him, “O Balin, why have you left your own shield behind?  You have now put yourself in the gravest danger, for by the arms upon your shield all men might know you.  It is a great pity, indeed, that evil should befall you, for you are the peer of any knight now living.”

“I repent exceedingly,” said Balin, “that I ever came into this country, but now that I have set foot upon this adventure I may not turn back without shame to myself.  Be it life or death, now will I take whatsoever God willeth.”