e son of great Uther
Pendragon had come to the throne. And far and wide the story spread
through the land that he who had drawn the magic sword was the rightful
heir to England's crown.

CHAPTER III.

THE LADY OF THE LAKE.

On a day at the end of the feasts given by King Arthur in honor of his
mother, there came into the court a squire, who bore before him on his
horse a knight that had been wounded unto death. He told how a stranger
knight in the forest had set up a pavilion by a well, and forced all who
passed to joust with him. This stranger had slain his master, and he
begged that some champion would revenge the slain knight.

Then rose Griflet, a youthful squire who had done good service in the
wars, and begged to be knighted, that he might undertake this adventure.

"Thou art but young for such a task," said Arthur.

"I beseech you for the honor of it," pleaded Griflet. "I have done you
knightly service."

Thereupon he was knighted and armed, and rode at day-dawn with a high
heart into the forest. But by night-fall back he came, with a
spear-thrust through his body, and scarce able to sit his horse for
weakness. He had met the knight, and barely escaped with his life.

This angered the king, and he determined to undertake the adventure
himself, and to seek to punish the daring knight who had planted
himself, with hostile purpose, so near his court. By his order his best
armor and horse were set before day at a point outside the city, and at
day-dawn he met there his squire and rode with him secretly into the
forest.

On the way thither he met three churls, who were chasing Merlin and
seeking to slay him. The king rode to them and sternly bade them desist,
and on seeing a knight before them they fled in craven fear.

"O Merlin," cried Arthur, "for all your craft you would have been slain,
had I not come to your aid."

"Not so. I but played with these churls," said Merlin. "I could have
saved myself easily enough. You are far more near your end than I, for
unless God be your friend you ride to your death."

As they conversed they came to the forest fountain, and saw there a rich
pavilion, while under a cloth stood a fair horse, richly saddled and
bridled, and on a tree was a shield of varied colors and a great spear.
In a chair near by sat an armed knight.

"How is it, sir knight," asked the king, sternly, "that you abide here
and force every knight that passes to joust with you? It is an ill