So Gouvernail and Sir Santraille went to that chapel unknown to anyone, and they went to that window whence Sir Tristram had leaped, and they opened the window, and leaned out and called upon Sir Tristram in low voices:  “Sir Tristram, if thou art alive, arise and answer us, for we are friends!”

Then after a while Sir Tristram recognized Gouvernail’s voice and answered them:  “I am alive; but save me, or I perish in a little while.”  Then Gouvernail said:  “Lord, are you hurt, or are you whole?” Sir Tristram replied, “I am strong and well in body, but the tide rises fast.”  Gouvernail said, “Messire, can you wait a little?” Sir Tristram said, “Ay; for a little, but not for too long.”

[Sidenote:  Gouvernail and Sir Santraille rescue Sir Tristram] Then Gouvernail and Sir Santraille withdrew from where they were and they made all haste, and they got together a great number of sheets and napkins, and tied these together and made a rope, and lowered the rope down to the rocks where Sir Tristram was.  Then Sir Tristram climbed up the rope of linen and so reached the chapel in safety.  And at that time it was nigh to midnight and very dark.

But when Sir Tristram stood with them in the chapel, he gave them hardly any greeting, but said at once:  “Messires, how doth it fare with the Lady Belle Isoult?” For he thought of her the first of all and above all things else.

To this Sir Santraille made reply:  “Sir, the lady hath been shut into a tower, and the door thereof hath been locked upon her, and she is a close prisoner.”

Then Sir Tristram said:  “How many knights are there in the place who are my friends, and who will stand with me to break out hence?” To this Gouvernail said:  “Lord, there are twelve besides ourselves, and that makes fourteen in all who are with thee in this quarrel unto life or death.”

Sir Tristram said:  “Provide me presently with arms and armor and bring those twelve hither armed at all points.  But first let them saddle horses for themselves and for us, and for the Lady Belle Isoult and for her waiting-woman, Dame Bragwaine.  When this is done, we will depart from this place unto some other place of refuge, and I do not think there will be any in the castle will dare stop or stay us after we are armed.”

[Sidenote:  Sir Tristram arms himself] So it was done as Sir Tristram commanded, and when all those were gathered together, and their horses ready, Sir Tristram and several of the knights of his party went openly to that tower where the Lady Belle Isoult was prisoner.  And they burst open the doors and went in with torches, and found Belle Isoult and her attendant in the upper part of the castle.

But when Belle Isoult beheld the face of Sir Tristram, she said:  “Is it thou, my love; and art thou still alive, and art thou come tome?” Sir Tristram said:  “Yea, I am still alive nor will I die, God willing, until I have first brought thee out of this wicked castle and into some place of safety.  And never again will I entrust thee unto King Mark’s hands; for I have great fear that if he have thee in his hands he will work vengeance upon thee so as to strike at my heart through thee.  So, dear love, I come to take thee away from this place; and never again right or wrong, shalt thou be without the shelter of my arm.”