ing's garment on me, sir! That would not be seemly."

"Seemly or not, I command it. By my head, you shall wear it before it
come on my back, or that of any man here."

The damsel drew back, quivering with fear and growing pale as death. But
the king commanded those about him to put it on her. Then was seen a
marvellous and fearful thing. For no sooner had the enchanted robe been
clasped around her form than flames burst out from its every thread, and
in a minute she fell to the floor dead, while her body was burnt to a
coal.

The king's anger burst out fiercely at this, and his face flamed with
the fire of rage. He turned to King Uriens and his son, who stood among
the knights.

"My sister, your wife, is doing her utmost to destroy me," he said, in
burning wrath. "Are you and my nephew, your son, joined with her in this
work of treachery? Yet I suspect not you, King Uriens, for Accolan
confessed to me that she would have slain you as well as me. But as for
your son, Uwaine, I hold him suspected, and banish him from my court. I
can have no traitors about me."

When these words had been spoken, Gawaine rose in anger, and said,--

"Whoever banishes my cousin banishes me. When and where Uwaine goes I go
also."

And with a stride of anger he left the great hall, followed by Uwaine.
Then the two knights armed themselves, and rode together from Camelot,
Gawaine vowing never to return till his cousin had been fully and freely
pardoned.

CHAPTER IV.

The Country of Strange Adventures.

The two knights who had so hastily departed from Arthur's court were
destined to see many and strange adventures before they should return.
And as their wanderings and deeds were caused by the treason of Morgan
le Fay, it is meet that they should here be told.

They spent their first night in an abbey not far from Camelot, and on
the next morning rode forward until they came to a forest. Passing
through this, they at length found themselves in a valley near a tower.
Here they beheld two knights fully armed and seated on their war-horses,
while twelve damsels were seen to pass to and fro beneath a tree.

When the wanderers came nearer they saw that on that tree hung a white
shield, and that as the damsels passed by this they spat upon it and
befouled it with mire.

"Why do you do this despite to the shield?" they asked, as they came up.

"Sir knights," answered the damsels, "we have good cause for what we do.
He who has hu