aft."

Mounting his horse, Lancelot departed. Of the lady, we are told by the
chronicles that she died within a fortnight of pure sorrow, and that she
was a sorceress of high renown.

Lancelot rode on till he met the sister of the wounded knight, who
clapped her hands and wept for joy on seeing him safely returned. Then
she led him to a castle near by, where Sir Meliot lay. Lancelot knew him
at sight, though he was pale as death from loss of blood.

On seeing Lancelot, he fell on his knees before him, crying, in tones of
hope,--

"Oh, my lord Lancelot, help me, for you alone can!"

"I can and will," rejoined the knight, and, as he had been advised, he
touched his wounds with the sword and rubbed them with the bloody cloth
he had won.

No sooner was this done, than Meliot sprang to his feet a whole and
sound man, while his heart throbbed with joy and gratefulness. And he
and his sister entertained their noble guest with the best the castle
afforded, doing all in their power to show their gratitude.

CHAPTER V.

THE ADVENTURE OF THE FALCON.

After his departure from the castle of Sir Meliot, Lancelot rode through
many strange regions, over marshes and highlands, through valleys and
forests, and at length found himself in front of a handsome castle. This
he passed, and as he did so thought he heard two bells ring.

Then he saw a falcon fly over his head towards a high elm, with long
cords hanging from her feet, and as she perched in the elm these became
coiled round a bough, so that when she tried to fly again the lines held
her and she hung downward by the legs.

Then there came a lady running from the castle, who cried, as she
approached,--

"Oh, Lancelot, Lancelot, as thou art the flower of knights, help me to
get my hawk, lest my lord destroy me! The hawk escaped me, and if my
husband finds it gone, he is so hasty that I fear he will kill me."

"What is his name?" asked Lancelot.

"His name is Phelot. He is a knight of the king of Northgalis."

"Well, fair lady, since you know my name so well, and ask me on my
knighthood to help you, I will try to get your hawk. But I am a poor
climber, and the tree is high, with few boughs to help me."

"I trust you may," she replied, "for my life depends on your success."

Then Lancelot alighted and tied his horse to the tree, and begged the
lady to help him remove his armor. When he was fully unarmed he climbed
with much difficulty into the tree, and at