send my army away without fighting," "I will meet King
Arthur," he said to the bishops.

But because he did not altogether trust the King he said he would take
fourteen men with him to the meeting-place, "and the King must have
fourteen men with him too," said Sir Modred. "And our armies shall
keep watch when we meet, and if a sword is lifted it shall be the
signal for battle."

Then King Arthur arranged a feast for Sir Modred and his men. And as
they feasted all went merrily till an adder glided out of a little
bush and stung one of the knight's men. And the pain was so great,
that the man quickly drew his sword to kill the adder.

And when the armies saw the sword flash in the light, they sprang to
their feet and began to fight, "for this is the signal for battle,"
they thought.

And when evening came there were many thousand slain and wounded, and
Sir Modred was left alone. But Arthur had still two knights with him,
Sir Lucan and Sir Bedivere.

When King Arthur saw that his army was lost and all his knights slain
but two, he said, "Would to God I could find Sir Modred, who has
caused all this trouble."

"He is yonder," said Sir Lucan, "but remember your dream, and go not
near him."

"Whether I die or live," said the King, "he shall not escape." And
seizing his spear he ran to Sir Modred, crying, "Now you shall die."

And Arthur smote him under the shield, and the spear passed through
his body, and he died.

Then, wounded and exhausted, the King fainted, and his knights lifted
him and took him to a little chapel not far from a lake.

As the King lay there, he heard cries of fear and pain from the
distant battle-field.

"What causes these cries?" said the King wearily. And to soothe the
sick King, Sir Lucan said he would go to see.

And when he reached the battle-field, he saw in the moonlight that
robbers were on the field stooping over the slain, and taking from
them their rings and their gold. And those that were only wounded, the
robbers slew, that they might take their jewels too.

Sir Lucan hastened back, and told the King what he had seen.

"We will carry you farther off, lest the robbers find us here,"
said the knights. And Sir Lucan lifted the King on one side and Sir
Bedivere lifted him on the other.

But Sir Lucan had been wounded in the battle, and as he lifted the
King he fell back and died.

Then Arthur and Sir Bedivere wept for the fallen knight.

Now the King felt so ill that he