to a strange city and stayed there all
night. The next day they separated, each going a different way.

Sir Galahad rode on for four days without adventure. At last he
came to a white abbey, where he was received very kindly. And he
found two knights there, and one was a King.

'What adventure has brought you here?' asked the boy-knight.

Then they told him that in this abbey there was a shield. And if
any man tried to carry it, he was either wounded or dead within
three days.

'But to-morrow I shall try to bear it,' said the King.

'In the name of God, let me take the shield,' said Sir Galahad
gravely.

'If I fail, you shall try to bear it,' said the King. And Galahad
was glad, for he had still no shield of his own.

Then a monk took the King and the young knight behind the altar,
and showed them where the shield hung. It was as white as snow, but
in the middle there was a red cross.

'The shield can be borne only by the worthiest knight in the
world,' the monk warned the King.

'I will try to bear it, though I am no worthy knight,' insisted the
King; and he took the shield and rode down into the valley.

And Galahad waited at the abbey, for the King had said he would
send his squire to tell the young knight how the shield had
protected him.

For two miles the King rode through the valley, till he reached a
hermitage. And he saw a warrior there, dressed in white armour, and
sitting on a white horse.

The warrior rode quickly towards the King, and struck him so hard
that he broke his armour. Then he thrust his spear through the
King's right shoulder, as though he held no shield.

'The shield can be borne only by a peerless knight. It does not
belong to you,' said the warrior, as he gave it to the squire,
telling him to carry it back to the abbey and to give it to Sir
Galahad with his greeting.

'Then tell me your name,' said the squire.

'I will tell neither you nor any one on earth,' said the warrior.
And he disappeared, and the squire saw him no more.

'I will take the wounded King to an abbey, that his wounds may be
dressed,' thought the squire.

And with great difficulty the King and his squire reached an abbey.
And the monks thought his life could not be saved, but after many
days he was cured.

Then the squire rode back to the abbey where Galahad waited. 'The
warrior who wounded the King bids you bear this shield,' he said.

Galahad hung the shield round his neck joyfully, and rode into