ood for the
land.

[Illustration: The Knight with the Sword]

[Illustration] THE COMING of GARETH

The beautiful Queen Bellicent had many sons, all of whom had gone
out in the world except the youngest. His name was Gareth. His
two brothers, Gawain and Modred, were with the good King Arthur,
and Gareth longed to join them. His mother, however, would not
let him go.

"You are not yet a man," she said. "You are only a child. Stay a
little longer with me."

So Gareth stayed. One day he came to his mother and said:

"Mother, may I tell you a story?"

"Gladly," she replied.

"Then, mother, once there was a golden egg which a royal eagle
had laid, away up in a tree. It was so high up that it could
hardly be seen. But a youth, who though poor was brave, saw it,
and longed for it. He knew that if he could get it, it would
bring wealth and prosperity to him. So he tried to climb. One who
loved him stopped him, saying, 'You will fall and be killed if
you try to reach that height.' Therefore the poor boy did not
climb, and so did not fall; but he pined away with longing till
his heart broke and he died."

Queen Bellicent answered:

"If the person who held him back had loved him, that person would
have climbed, and found the egg, and given it to the youth."

"That could not be," said Gareth. "Mother, suppose the egg were
not gold, but steel, the same steel that Arthur's sword Excalibur
is made of."

The queen grew pale, for she now understood his meaning.

But Gareth spoke on:

"Dear mother, the gold egg is the glory to be won at Arthur's
Court; I am the poor youth, and you are the one who holds me
back. Mother, let me go!"

Then Bellicent wept, and she said:

"Oh, my son, do not leave me. You love me more than Gawain and
Modred. You are all I have left in the world."

But Gareth replied:

"Mother, I waste my strength here."

"No, no," she said. "You shall hunt; you shall follow the deer
and the fox, and so grow strong. Then I will find you a beautiful
wife, and we shall all live together till I die."

Gareth shook his head.

"No, mother. I do not want a wife until I have proved myself to
be a worthy and brave knight. I wish to follow Arthur, my good
king and uncle."

"Perhaps he is not the true king and your uncle," Bellicent said.
"At least wait a little till he has shown himself to be the
greatest king in the world. Stay with me."

"Nay, mother," he said. "I must go."

Then the queen