would
take time to help anything that was suffering. If I am ever to be a
knight I must do so too." With this thought, he turned and was soon back
again at the spot where the little fish lay. He got down off of his
horse, and taking the poor creature in his hand as gently as possible,
he stooped down and put it into the stream of water. It swam rapidly
away as if glad, beyond words, to get back into its own element. Its
swiftly moving tail seemed to Cedric, as he watched it for a moment, to
say, "Thank you, Cedric, thank you, thank you!" He then jumped on his
horse again and rode on.

The day grew very warm, but Cedric knew that he must not stop for his
own comfort; his errand was an important one and he must reach the
King's palace before night.

At last the beautiful palace came in sight and in a few moments Cedric
had ridden into the courtyard. He gave his letter to a servant to carry
it to one of the squires who gave it to a courtier who presented it to
the King; for you must remember in those days a King was a very great
person, and only those men who had risen high in rank could approach
him.

Among other things the note contained this message. It told the King
that the bearer was a young lad who had been in training for knighthood
and that Sir Rollin had found him always brave and trustworthy, true and
noble, kind and courteous, and that he, Sir Rollin, thought if the King
wanted him in his army, he would find him worthy of the place.

The King sent for Cedric to come to him personally. Our little boy had
grown into a tall man, you know, and his frank, pure face was good to
look upon. The King told him that he wished to put him in office in his
army; and thus Cedric went to live in the King's household and here he
learned many things which he could not have learned at the castle of Sir
Rollin Dubois.

Several years passed by, and Cedric had been entrusted with many
enterprises, both difficult and dangerous. At last one day the King sent
for him to come into the throne room. There sat the King upon a
beautiful throne of gold; beside him sat the queen. Over their head was
a crimson velvet canopy. Standing about the room were a great number of
courtiers and grand ladies. As Cedric entered the room, the King said,
"Come forward."

Cedric stepped forward and kneeled upon one knee before the throne, as
was the custom in those days. The King raised his beautiful golden
scepter and struck Cedric lightly upon the