and as I
know you for a villain and coward, I adjudge unto your brother all the
manor in dispute, with the provision that he hold it of you, and yearly
give you in lieu of rent a palfrey to ride upon, which will become such
a base poltroon much better than a war-horse. And I charge you, upon
pain of death, to restore to these twenty knights their armor and
property, and never again to distress a knight-errant. If complaint of
such shall be made to me, by my head, you shall die for it. Sir
Ontzlake, you are said to be a good and valiant knight, and true and
worthy in your deeds. I desire you to come to my court as soon as
possible, where you shall be one of my knights, and, if your deeds
hereafter conform to the good report I have heard of you, you soon shall
equal your brother in estate."

"I am at your command," said Ontzlake, "and thank you humbly for your
goodness and bounty. As for this battle, I would have fought it myself,
only that lately I was deeply wounded in a combat with a wandering
knight."

"I would it had been so," said Arthur, "for treason was used against me
in this combat, and had I fought with you I should not have been so
badly hurt. My own sword was stolen and I was given a false and brittle
blade, which failed me in my greatest need."

"Great pity it is that a king so noble and a knight so worthy should
have been thus foully dealt with."

"I shall reward the traitor in short time, by the grace of God," said
Arthur. "Now tell me how far I am from Camelot?"

"You are two days' journey distant."

"Then where can I obtain shelter and rest?"

"There is an abbey but three miles distant where you will find skilled
leeches and good nursing."

Then King Arthur took his leave of the people, and repaired with Accolan
to the abbey, where he and the knight were placed under medical care.
Arthur's wounds, though deep and painful, proved not serious, and he
rapidly recovered, but Accolan had lost so much blood that he died
within four days. Then Arthur had the corpse sent on a horse-bier,
attended by six knights, to Camelot, saying to the messengers,--

"Bear this body to my sister, Morgan le Fay, and say to her that I send
it as a present. Tell her, moreover, that, through her sisterly
kindness, I have again my sword Excalibur and the scabbard, and shall
visit her ere long."

CHAPTER III.

HOW MORGAN CHEATED THE KING.

In the meantime Morgan le Fay was so sure of the success of her
murd