eturned thence alive, and none may
enter the gate except a craftsman, who brings his trade.' But little did
Arthur's men heed his warning, and they went straight to the gate.

'Open!' cried Gwrhyr.

'I will not open,' replied the porter.

'And wherefore?' asked Kai.

'The knife is in the meat, and the drink is in the horn, and there is
revelry in the hall of Gwrnach the giant, and save for a craftsman who
brings his trade the gate will not be opened to-night.'

'Verily, then, I may enter,' said Kai, 'for there is no better burnisher
of swords than I.'

'This will I tell Gwrnach the giant, and I will bring thee his answer.'

'Bid the man come before me,' cried Gwrnach, when the porter had told
his tale, 'for my sword stands much in need of polishing,' so Kai passed
in and saluted Gwrnach the giant.

'Is it true what I hear of thee, that thou canst burnish swords?'

'It is true,' answered Kai. Then was the sword of Gwrnach brought to
him.

'Shall it be burnished white or blue?' said Kai, taking a whetstone from
under his arm.

'As thou wilt,' answered the giant, and speedily did Kai polish half the
sword. The giant marvelled at his skill, and said:

'It is a wonder that such a man as thou shouldst be without a
companion.'

'I have a companion, noble sir, but he has no skill in this art.'

'What is his name?' asked the giant.

'Let the porter go forth, and I will tell him how he may know him. The
head of his lance will leave its shaft, and draw blood from the wind,
and descend upon its shaft again.' So the porter opened the gate and
Bedwyr entered.

Now there was much talk amongst those who remained without when the
gate closed upon Bedwyr, and Goreu, son of Custennin, prevailed with the
porter, and he and his companions got in also and hid themselves.

By this time the whole of the sword was polished, and Kai gave it into
the hand of Gwrnach the giant, who felt it and said:

'Thy work is good; I am content.'

Then said Kai:

'It is thy scabbard that hath rusted thy sword; give it to me that I may
take out the wooden sides of it and put in new ones.' And he took the
scabbard in one hand and the sword in the other, and came and stood
behind the giant, as if he would have sheathed the sword in the
scabbard. But with it he struck a blow at the head of the giant, and it
rolled from his body. After that they despoiled the castle of its gold
and jewels, and returned, bearing the sword of the giant, to A