` My lord , has anything befallen thee ? ' he asked . ` Oh , Gwalchmai , I am grieved concerning Owen , whom I have lost these three years , and if a fourth year passes without him I can live no longer . And sure am I that the tale told by Kynon the son of Clydno caused me to lose him . I will go myself with the men of my household to avenge him if he is dead , to free him if he is in prison , to bring him back if he is alive . ' Then Arthur and three thousand men of his household set out in quest of Owen , and took Kynon for their guide . When Arthur reached the castle , the youths were shooting in the same place , and the same yellow man was standing by , and as soon as he beheld Arthur he greeted him and invited him in , and they entered together . So vast was the castle that the king 's three thousand men were of no more account than if they had been twenty . At sunrise Arthur departed thence , with Kynon for his guide , and reached the black man first , and afterwards the top of the wooded hill , with the fountain and the bowl and the tree . ` My lord , ' said Kai , ` let me throw the water on the slab , and receive the first adventure that may befall . ' ` Thou mayest do so , ' answered Arthur , and Kai threw the water . Immediately all happened as before ; the thunder and the shower of hail which killed many of Arthur 's men ; the song of the birds and the appearance of the black knight . And Kai met him and fought him , and was overthrown by him . Then the knight rode away , and Arthur and his men encamped where they stood . In the morning Kai again asked leave to meet the knight and to try to overcome him , which Arthur granted . But once more he was unhorsed , and the black knight 's lance broke his helmet and pierced the skin even to the bone , and humbled in spirit he returned to the camp . After this every one of the knights gave battle , but none came out victor , and at length there only remained Arthur himself and Gwalchmai . ` Oh , let me fight him , my lord , ' cried Gwalchmai , as he saw Arthur taking up his arms . ` Well , fight then , ' answered Arthur , and Gwalchmai threw a robe over himself and his horse , so that none knew him . All that day they fought , and neither was able to throw the other , and so it was on the next day .
On the third day the combat was so fierce that they fell both to the ground XXXXX once , and fought on their feet , and at last the black knight gave his foe such a blow on his head that his helmet fell from his face . '
After as at in over so that to with without