n the
shape of ravens that come forth of their bodies. They marvel right
sore what this may be, and say that such hostel is right grievous.

VI.

When they had put them all to the worse, they sate them down again and
rested; but scarce were they seated or ever another rout of yet blacker
folk came about them, and they bare spears burning and flaming, and
many of them carried dead knights that they had slain in the forest,
and dropped them in the midst of the house, and then bid the damsel
carry and set them with the others. Howbeit, she answereth that she is
quit of their commandment and service, nor no longer is forced to do
nought for them sith that she hath done her penance. They thrust
forward their spears toward the King and the two knights, as though
they were come to avenge their companions; but they all three leapt up
together and attacked them right stoutly. But this rout was greater
and of knights more hideous. They began to press the King and his
knights hard, and they might not put them to the worse as they did the
others. And while they were thus in the thickest of the conflict, they
heard the stroke of a bell sounding, and forthwith the knight fiends
departed and hurried away a great pace.

"Lords," saith the damsel, "Had this sound not been heard, scarce might
you have endured, for yet another huge rout of this folk was coming in
such sort as that none might have withstood them, and this sound have I
heard every night, whereby my life hath been saved."

VII.

Josephus telleth us that as at this time was there no bell neither in
Greater Britain nor in Lesser; but folk were called together by a horn,
and in many places there were sheets of steel, and in other places
clappers of wood. King Arthur marvelled him much of this sound, so
clear and sweet was it, and it well seemed him that it came on God's
behalf, and right fain was he to see a bell and so he might. They were
the night until the morrow in the house, as I tell you. The damsel
took leave of them and so departed. As they came forth of the hold,
they met three hermits that told them they were going to search for the
bodies that were in this manor so that they might bury them in a waste
chapel that was hard by, for such knights had lain there as that
henceforward the haunting of the evil folk would be stayed in such sort
as that they would have no more power to do hurt to any, wherefore they
would set therewithin a worshipful hermit