r Lord; for you shall hurt the truest knight and the man
of most worship that now lives, and through that stroke three kingdoms
shall be in great poverty, misery, and wretchedness for twelve years,
and the knight you will hurt shall not be whole of his wound for many
years."

"If I knew that it were true as you say," answered Balin, "I would do
such a rash deed as to slay myself to make you a liar. But the future
must reveal itself. I trust no man's predictions."

Thereupon Merlin suddenly vanished away, leaving them in deep marvel at
his coming and going. Soon after Balin and his brother took leave of
King Mark.

"First," said the king, "tell me your name."

"You see he bears two swords," said Balan. "You may call him the knight
with the two swords."

And so King Mark rode towards Camelot, and the brothers towards
Terrabil. As they rode, Merlin again met them, but now in disguise.

"Whither do you ride?" he asked.

"Why should we tell you that?" said the knights.

"You need not, for I know already. And I can tell you this. You will
gain no advantage over King Ryons without my counsel."

"Ah! you are Merlin," said Balin. "Then we shall be glad of your
counsel."

"Come then with me. But look that you brace yourself to knightly deeds,
for you will have great need to do so."

"As for that," said Balin, "we will do what we can. No knight can do
more."

Then Merlin lodged them in a leafy wood beside the highway, where they
rested till it was near midnight. He then awakened them and bade them
rise and make ready, for the king they sought was near at hand. He had
stolen away from his host with threescore of his best knights to visit a
lady.

"How shall we know the king?" asked Balin.

"Hereby is a narrow way where you shall meet him," said Merlin.

They followed him to the place, where they lay in ambush till the rattle
of harness showed that the party approached. Then, at Merlin's
suggestion, the two knights rode from their covert and assailed the king
at the head of his followers, wounding him sorely and hurling him to the
ground. They then, in the darkness, attacked the array of knights with
the fury of lions, slaying more than forty of them, and putting the
remnant to flight.

This done, they returned to King Ryons where he lay helpless, and with a
threat of death forced him to yield himself to their grace.

"Valiant knights, slay me not," he asked. "You may profit by my life,
but can win nothing by