l, and
abide my return, for now you must fight for your kingdom, O king, and
for your very life.'

The voice ceased, and the shadow and the vivid eyes it half concealed
died away with it.

Into the council-chamber three days later, while men waited for they
knew not what, Merlin entered.

'What news do you bring, Merlin?' they cried.

'Of civil war!' he said. 'I warn you all that the six kings ye gave a
check to at Caerleon have taken to themselves four others and a mighty
duke. They will to thrust Arthur, whom they call base-born, out of his
life. Mark you, they are passing strong and as good fighting men as any
alive--pity it is that great Uriens is with them, the wisest and
noblest fighter of them all!--and unless Arthur have more men of arms
and chivalry with him than he can get within this realm, he will be
overcome!'

'Oh, but we be big enough!' cried some.

'That ye are not!' said Merlin. 'Which of ye have single-handed beaten
back the pagan hordes from your lands? Which of ye can match King Lot
for subtlety and craft, or the great Uriens of Reged for wisdom in
war?'

'What is to do, then? Tell us your counsel,' said they all.

'This is my advice,' replied the wizard. 'Ye must send an embassy to
King Ban of Brittany and King Bors of Gaul, promising to aid them when
King Claudas, their common enemy, shall fight them again, if they will
come and aid our king in this his fight for life and kingdom.'

In a few weeks this was done. King Ban of Brittany and his brother,
King Bors, crossed into Britain with five thousand good knights, sworn
to aid Arthur in this great conflict.

With King Ban came his son, young Lancelot, who was later to make more
fame and more dole than any knight of Arthur's court.

On a day in early spring, the hosts of Arthur and his two allies were
encamped in Sherwood Forest, and the fore-riders or scouts, which
Merlin had sent out, came hastening in to say that the host of the
eleven kings was but a few miles to the north of Trent water. By secret
ways, throughout that night, Merlin led the army of Arthur until they
came near where the enemy lay. Then did he order an ambush to be made
by some part of their men, with King Ban and King Bors, by hiding in a
hollow filled with trees.

In the morning, when either host saw the other, the northern host was
well comforted, for they thought King Arthur's force was but small.

With the pealing of trumpets and the shouts of the knights, Ki