she rode with her train
into the country of Gore, where she was well received, and in the might
of whose castles and towns she felt secure from Arthur's wrath, for much
she feared his vengeance should she fall into his hands.

Meantime the king rode back to Camelot, where he was gladly received by
his queen and his knights, to whom he told in full the story of Morgan
le Fay's treason. They were all angry at this, and many knights declared
that she should be burned.

"Stone will not burn," said Arthur. "But God has punished her."

But as they thus conversed, Manassen came to the court and told the king
of his adventure, delivering to him Morgan's message.

"Then the witch has tricked me!" cried the king, in a tone of vexation.
"I might have known it, had I been wise. A kind sister she is, indeed!
But my turn will come. Treachery and magic may succeed for a time, but
honor must win in the end."

Yet despite the king's awakened distrust, he nearly fell a victim to his
sister's vile enchantments. For on the succeeding morning there came a
damsel to the court from Morgan le Fay, bearing with her the richest
mantle that had ever been seen there. It was set so full of precious
stones that it might almost have stood alone, and some of them were gems
worth a king's ransom.

"Your sister sends you this mantle," said the bearer. "That she has done
things to offend you she knows and is sorry for; and she desires that
you shall take this gift from her as a tribute for her evil thoughts.
What else can be done to amend her acts she will do, for she bitterly
regrets her deeds of wickedness."

The mantle pleased the king greatly, though he made but brief reply as
he accepted it from the hand of the messenger.

At that perilous moment there came to him the damsel Nimue, who had so
recently helped him in his dire need.

"Sir, may I speak with you in private?" she asked the king.

"What have you to say?" he replied, withdrawing from the throng.

"It is this. Beware that you do not put on this mantle, and that no
knight of yours puts it on, till you know more. The serpent does not so
soon lose its venom. There is death in the mantle's folds. At least do
this: before you wear it, command that she who brought it shall put it
on."

"Well said," answered the king. "It shall be done as you advise."

Then he returned to the messenger and said,--

"Damsel, I wish to see the mantle you have brought me tried upon
yourself."

"A k