ts, and smote
vigorously to right and left, keeping always in the foremost press, till
his horse was slain beneath him, and he hurled to the ground.

King Lot took instant advantage of this, and with a mighty blow
prostrated the unhorsed king. But his knights hastily surrounded him,
drove back his crowding foes, and set him on horseback again. And now
King Arthur drew the magic sword, and as he waved it in the air there
flashed from it a gleaming lustre that blinded the eyes of his enemies.
Back they went before him, many of them falling under his mighty blows,
while his valiant knights followed hotly in the track of the flaming
sword, and the enemy fled in panic fear.

Then the people of Carlion, seeing the enemy in retreat, came out with
clubs and staves, and fell upon the defeated host, killing numbers of
the dismounted knights; while the hostile kings, with such of their
followers as remained alive, fled in all haste from the disastrous
field, leaving the victory to Arthur and his knights.

Thus ended in victory the first battle of Arthur's famous reign. It was
but the prelude to a greater one, the mighty deeds of which the
chroniclers tell at great length, but of which we shall give but brief
record. It was predicted by Merlin, who told the king that he should
have to fight far more strongly for his crown, that the defeated kings
would get others to join them, and would ere long proceed against him
with a mighty force.

"I warn you," he said to the king and his council, "that your enemies
are very strong, for they have entered into alliance with four other
kings and a mighty duke, and unless our king obtain powerful allies he
shall be overcome and slain."

"What then shall we do?" asked the barons.

"I shall tell you," said Merlin. "There are two brethren beyond the sea,
both kings, and marvellously valiant men. One of these is King Ban of
Benwick, and the other King Bors of Gaul. These monarchs are at war with
a mighty warrior, King Claudas. My counsel then is, that our king ask
the aid of these monarchs in his wars, and engage in return to help them
in their war with their foe."

"It is well counselled," said the king and his barons.

Accordingly two knights with letters were sent across the seas, and
after various adventures reached the camp of Kings Ban and Bors. These
valiant monarchs gladly responded to Arthur's request, and, leaving
their castles well guarded, came with ten thousand of their best me