Against the hillside there were remains of ancient walls that once, undoubtedly, had supported terraces of vines, but the rains had long washed the soil from the rocks, and among the caves and crannies of the fallen stonework, and ruined cellars, foxes, bats, and other animals had found a home.
The knight was no antiquary, but as he looked about him his curiosity was excited: "What can have happened here ?" he said, and his squire wondered also, and followed his master.

The latter led his horse to the edge of the water to let him drink, for though he had seen many watercourses in the land, he had found nothing in them save stones, and boulders, and sand.
"What if this lake should be salt, like the Dead Sea in the Holy Land ?" the knight asked, and the squire answered: "Ugh, that would be a thousand pities!" As the former raised his hand to his mouth to taste the water, wishing indeed that it were wine, he suddenly heard a strange noise.

It was mournful and complaining, but very soft and sweet.

It seemed to be the voice of an unhappy woman, and this pleased the knight, for he had ridden forth in search of adventures.

He had already been successful in several encounters, and from George's saddle hung the tail-tips of seven dragons which his master had killed.