The giant marvelled at his skill , and said : ` It is a wonder that such a man as thou shouldst be without a companion . ' ' I have a companion , noble sir , but he has no skill in this art . ' ` What is his name ? ' asked the giant . ` Let the porter go forth , and I will tell him how he may know him . The head of his lance will leave its shaft , and draw blood from the wind , and descend upon its shaft again . ' So the porter opened the gate and Bedwyr entered . Now there was much talk amongst those who remained without when the gate closed upon Bedwyr , and Goreu , son of Custennin , prevailed with the porter , and he and his companions got in also and hid themselves . By this time the whole of the sword was polished , and Kai gave it into the hand of Gwrnach the giant , who felt it and said : ` Thy work is good ; I am content . ' Then said Kai : ` It is thy scabbard that hath rusted thy sword ; give it to me that I may take out the wooden sides of it and put in new ones . ' And he took the scabbard in one hand and the sword in the other , and came and stood behind the giant , as if he would have sheathed the sword in the scabbard . But with it he struck a blow at the head of the giant , and it rolled from his body . After that they despoiled the castle of its gold and jewels , and returned , bearing the sword of the giant , to Arthur 's court . They told Arthur how they had sped , and they all took counsel together , and agreed that they must set out on the quest for Mabon the son of Modron , and Gwrhyr , who knew the languages of beasts and of birds , went with them . SO they journeyed until they came to the nest of an ousel , and Gwrhyr spoke to her . ` Tell me if thou knowest aught of Mabon the son of Modron , who was taken when three nights old from between his mother and the wall . ' And the ousel answered : ` When I first came here I was a young bird , and there was a smith 's anvil in this place . But from that time no work has been done upon it , save that every evening I have pecked at it , till now there is not so much as the size of a nut remaining thereof . Yet all that time I have never once heard of the man you name . Still , there is a race of beasts older than I , and I will guide you to them . '
XXXXX the ousel flew before them , till she reached the stag of Redynvre ; but when they inquired of the stag whether he knew aught of Mabon he shook his head .
So amongst as at behind in into than to without