bury to crown me,' he said
proudly. And the nobles took him there, and amid shouts and
rejoicings he was crowned.

But it was not very long till other letters came from across the
sea, saying that King Arthur had not been slain, and that he was
coming back to rule over his own country once more.

When Sir Modred heard that King Arthur was on his way home, he
collected a great army and went to Dover to try to keep the King
from landing.

But no army would have been strong enough to keep Arthur and his
knights away from the country they loved so well. They fought
fiercely till they got on shore and scattered all Sir Modred's men.

Then the knight gathered together another army, and chose a new
battle-field.

But King Arthur fought so bravely that he and his men were again
victorious, and Sir Modred fled to Canterbury.

Many of the people began to forsake the false knight now, and
saying that he was a traitor, they went back to King Arthur.

But still Sir Modred wished to conquer the King. He would go
through the counties of Kent and Surrey and raise a new army.

Now King Arthur had dreamed that if he fought with Sir Modred again
he would be slain. So when he heard that the knight had raised
another army, he thought, 'I will meet this traitor who has
betrayed me. When he looks in my face, he will be ashamed and
remember his vow of obedience.'

And he sent two bishops to Sir Modred. 'Say to the knight that the
King would speak with him alone,' said Arthur.

And the traitor thought, 'The King wishes to give me gold or great
power, if I send my army away without fighting.' 'I will meet King
Arthur,' he said to the bishops.

But because he did not altogether trust the King he said he would
take fourteen men with him to the meeting-place, 'and the King must
have fourteen men with him too,' said Sir Modred. 'And our armies
shall keep watch when we meet, and if a sword is lifted it shall be
the signal for battle.'

Then King Arthur arranged a feast for Sir Modred and his men. And
as they feasted all went merrily till an adder glided out of a
little bush and stung one of the knight's men. And the pain was so
great, that the man quickly drew his sword to kill the adder.

And when the armies saw the sword flash in the light, they sprang
to their feet and began to fight, 'for this is the signal for
battle,' they thought.

And when evening came there were many thousand slain and wounded,
and Sir Modred was left alo