uld overcome that good knight in combat. All day
there was music and dancing and feasting. Sir Lancelot, however,
could not be merry. He kept thinking of his nephew, Sir Lionel,
and wondering where he was.

On the morning of the tournament Sir Lancelot asked King
Bagdemagus to furnish him with a white shield, because he did not
want to be known. The king did so, and also gave each of the
three knights who rode with him a shield of the same color. Sir
Lancelot went with the knights into a little leafy wood near the
field where the tournament was to be held.

Meanwhile King Bagdemagus rode to the tournament with sixty men,
and met there the king of Northgalis with eighty men. They began
to fight, and soon those on the side of King Bagdemagus began to
be worsted. Then Sir Lancelot, with the three knights, dashed out
of the little wood and into the thick of the fight.

No one could stand against Sir Lancelot. One of King Arthur's
knights, Sir Modred, the brother of Sir Gawain and Sir Gareth,
was fighting against King Bagdemagus. Not knowing who Sir
Lancelot was, he rushed upon him. Sir Lancelot unhorsed him, but
would not hurt him, because he was a Knight of the Round Table.
Years afterward he was sorry he had not killed him, for Sir
Modred proved to be a traitor to King Arthur.

Sir Lancelot fought so well that, for his sake, all the prizes of
the tournament were given to King Bagdemagus, who was greatly
rejoiced, and offered large gifts to Sir Lancelot, and begged
him to be his guest for a time. But Sir Lancelot was so anxious
to find out what had become of Sir Lionel that he could not
remain. So the next day he set forth.

He rode back towards the clump of trees where he had fallen
asleep while Sir Lionel kept watch. On the highway he met a
damsel riding on a white palfrey.

"Fair damsel," said Sir Lancelot, "can you tell me of any
adventures hereabouts? I am Sir Lancelot of the Lake."

"Oh, Sir Lancelot," said she, "it is indeed fortunate that you
have come, for there is here a knight named Sir Turquaine who has
put in prison many of the knights of the Round Table. You shall
fight with him for the freedom of your friends."

Then she turned her horse, and Sir Lancelot gladly followed her.
She brought him to the tree on which hung the shields of his
brother knights. Sir Lancelot let his horse drink a little water,
and then he struck on the iron basin at the foot of the tree so
fiercely that the bottom fell out