, and indeed I should like
to believe it."

"But you are not sure?" asked the king.

"I am not sure. For my mother Yguerne was dark, and King Uther
was dark. Their hair and eyes were black like mine. Yet Arthur's
hair is as bright as gold. Besides, there is the story of old
Bleys."

"What is his story?"

"He says that Uther died, weeping because he had no heir. Then
Bleys and Merlin, who were present at his death, passed together
out of the castle. It was a stormy night, and as they walked
along by the lake they were forced by the roar of the tempest to
look out upon the waves, whipped by the wind.

"Suddenly they saw a ship on the water. It had the shape of a
winged dragon. All over its decks stood a multitude of people
shining like gold. Then the ship vanished, and a number of great
waves began to roll in towards shore. The ninth of these waves
seemed as large as half the sea. It was murmuring with strange
voices and rippling with flames. In the midst of the flames was a
little fair-haired baby who was borne to Merlin's feet. Merlin
stooped and picked it up, and cried, 'The King! Here is an heir
for Uther!' This, King Leodogran, is the story Bleys told me
before he died."

King Leodogran wondered very much. Then he said:

"But did you not question Merlin about this?"

"Yes," answered Queen Bellicent. "I asked him if this story of
Bleys was true. He would only answer me with a riddle."

As King Leodogran was still silent, she said:

"Do not fear to give your daughter to Arthur, for he will be the
greatest king the world has ever seen."

Leodogran felt less doubtful. While he was thinking, he fell
asleep and had a dream. He saw in his dream a field covered with
mist and smoke, and a phantom king standing in the cloud. He
heard a voice which said, "This is not our king; this is not the
son of Uther." But suddenly the mist disappeared and the king
stood out in heaven, crowned.

King Leodogran took this dream for a good sign. He called the
three knights, Sir Ulfius and Sir Brastias and Sir Bedivere, and
said to them:

"Say to your king that I will give him Guinevere for his wife."

So the three hastily returned to King Arthur, who was overjoyed
with their message.

In the month of May he sent Sir Lancelot, the son of King Ban,
for Guinevere. When she came, the Archbishop of Canterbury
married them. And he blessed them and said that they, with the
help of the Knights of the Round Table, must do much g