due salutation to
all, he took his place at the Round Table. So it was that all were
eager to hear of his adventure, yet none would question him until
he had eaten and drunk. But when he was refreshed, the King said to
him: "Whence come ye, Sir Kynon? For it would seem that ye have met
with hard adventure." "Sir King," answered Kynon, "it has been with
me as never before; for I have encountered with, and been
overthrown by, a single knight." All were filled with wonder at his
words, for never before had Sir Kynon been worsted in any meeting,
man to man. Then said the King: "The stoutest of us must some time
meet his match; yet did ye bear you valiantly, I doubt not. Tell us
now, I pray you, of your adventures." "Noble lord," said Kynon, "I
had determined to journey into other lands; for I would seek new
and untried adventures. So I passed into a far land, and it
chanced, one day, that I found myself in the fairest valley I had
ever seen. Through it there flowed a mighty river, which I
followed, until I came, as evening fell, to a castle, the largest
and strongest I have ever seen. At the castle gate I espied a man
of right noble mien, who greeted me courteously, and bade me enter.
So as we sat at supper, he inquired of my journey and the quest I
followed, and I told him how I sought but adventure, and whether,
perchance, I might encounter one stronger than myself. Then the
lord of the castle smiled and said: 'I can bring you to such an
one, if ye would rather that I showed you your disadvantage than
your advantage.' And when I questioned him further, he replied:
'Sleep here this night, and to-morrow I will show you such an one
as ye seek.' So I rested that night, and with the dawn I rose and
took my leave of the lord of the castle, who said to me: 'If ye
will persevere in your quest, follow the path to the head of the
glade, and ascend the wooded steep until ye come to an open space
in the forest, with but one great tree in its midst. Under the tree
is a fountain, and beside it a marble slab to which is chained a
silver bowl. Take a bowlful of water and dash it upon the slab, and
presently there will appear a knight spurring to encounter with
you. If ye flee, he will pursue, but if ye overcome him, there
exists none in this world whom ye need fear to have ado with.'

"Forthwith I departed, and following these directions, I came at
last to such a space as he described, with the tree and fountain in
its midst. So I too