Thus it came to pass that, as Sir Balin rode on his way, he heard the hoof-beats of a horse fast galloping, and a voice cried loudly to him:  “Stay, Knight; for thou shalt stay, whether thou wilt or not.”  “Fair Knight,” answered Balin fiercely, “dost thou desire to fight with me?” “Yea, truly,” answered Lanceour; “for that cause have I followed thee from Camelot.”  “Alas!” cried Balin, “then I know thy quarrel.  And yet, I dealt but justly by that vile woman, and it grieves me to offend my lord King Arthur again.”  “Have done, and make ready to fight,” said Lanceour insolently; for he was proud and arrogant, though a brave knight.  So they rushed together, and, at the first encounter, Sir Lanceour’s spear was shivered against the shield of the other, but Balin’s spear pierced shield and hauberk and Lanceour fell dead to the earth.

Then Sir Balin, sore grieved that he had caused the death of a knight of Arthur’s court, buried Lanceour as well as he might, and continued sorrowfully on his journey in search of King Ryons.  Presently, as he rode through a great forest, he espied a knight whom, by his arms, he knew at once for his brother, Sir Balan.  Great joy had they in their meeting, for Balan had believed Balin still to be in prison.  So Balin told Balan all that had befallen him, and how he sought Ryons to avenge Arthur upon him for his insolent message, and hoped thereby to win his lord’s favour again.  “I will ride with thee, brother,” said Balan, “and help thee all I may.”  So the two went on their way till, presently, they met with an old man—­Merlin’s self, though they knew him not, for he was disguised.  “Ah, Knight,” said Merlin to Balin, “swift to strike and swift to repent, beware, or thou shalt strike the most dolorous blow dealt by man; for thou shalt slay thine own brother.”  “If I believed thy words true,” cried Balin hotly, “I would slay myself to make thee a liar.”  “I know the past and I know the future,” said Merlin; “I know, too, the errand on which thou ridest, and I will help thee if thou wilt.”  “Ah!” said Balin, “that pleases me well.”  “Hide you both in this covert,” said Merlin; “for presently there shall come riding down this path King Ryons with sixty of his knights.”  With these words he vanished.  So Balin and Balan did as he had bidden them, and when King Ryons and his men entered the little path, they fell upon them with such fury that they slew more than forty knights, while the rest fled, and King Ryons himself yielded him to them.  So Sir Balan rode with King Ryons to Camelot that he might deliver him to King Arthur; but Balin went not with them, for he would see more adventures before he sought King Arthur’s presence again.

After many days’ travel and many encounters, it befell that, one evening, Balin drew near to a castle; and when he would have sought admittance, there stood by him an old man, and said:  “Balin, turn thee back, and it shall be better for thee,” and so vanished.  At that moment there was blown a blast on a horn, such as is sounded when the stag receives its death; and hearing it, Balin’s heart misgave him, and he cried:  “That blast is blown for me, and I am the prize.  But not yet am I dead!”