im when he sets forth. Cover
up the great lions on your shield so that he will not know who
you are." Sir Lancelot agreed. Then Gareth was secretly made a
knight.

That same day a beautiful young damsel came into Arthur's hall.
She had cheeks as pink as apple blossoms, and very sharp eyes.

"Who are you, damsel?" asked the king, "and what do you need?"

"My name is Lynette," she said, "and I am of noble blood. I need
a knight to fight for my sister Lyonors, a lady, also noble,
rich, and most beautiful."

"Why must she have a knight?" questioned Arthur.

"My Lord King, she lives in Castle Perilous. Around this castle a
river circles three times, and there are three passing-places,
one over each circle of the river. Three knights, who are
brothers, keep a constant guard over these passing-places. A
fourth knight, also a brother, clad in black armor, stands guard
in front of my sister's castle. We have never seen this knight's
face or heard his voice, but his brothers tell us he is the most
powerful and daring knight in the world. All these four keep my
sister a prisoner."

"And why?"

"Because they want her to marry one of them so that they can have
her great wealth. She refuses, but they say that they will have
their way. In the meantime, they demand that you send Sir
Lancelot to fight with them. They hope to overthrow Sir Lancelot,
thus proving themselves the greatest warriors in the land. But I
believe that Sir Lancelot could overthrow them; therefore, I
have come for him."

Arthur remembered his promise to Sir Gareth, and did not speak of
Sir Lancelot, but asked:

"Tell me what these four knights, your enemies, are like."

"The three I have talked to are vain and foolish knights, my
lord," answered the damsel. "They have no law, and they
acknowledge no king. Yet they are very strong, and therefore am I
come for Sir Lancelot."

Then Sir Gareth rose up, crying:

"Sir King, give me this adventure."

At this, Sir Kay started up in anger, but Gareth continued:

"My king, you know that I am but your kitchen boy, yet I have
grown so strong on your meat and drink that I can overthrow an
hundred such knights."

The king looked at him a moment, and said:

"Go, then."

At this all the knights were amazed. The damsel's face flushed
with anger.

"Shame, King!" she cried. "I asked you for your chief knight,
and you give me a kitchen boy!"

Then, before any one could prevent, she ran from the hall,
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