any of good Knights and they hold together as boars
that are vexed with dogs.'

'That is truth,' said Sir Lavaine.

'Now,' said Sir Lancelot, 'if you will help me a little, you shall see
King Arthur's side, which is winning, driven back as fast as they
came.'

'Spare not, Sir,' answered Sir Lavaine, 'for I shall do what I may.'
So they rode into the thickest of the press, and smote so hard both
with spear and sword that the Knights of the Round Table fell back. 'O
mercy!' cried Sir Gawaine, 'what Knight is that yonder who does such
marvellous deeds?'

'I know well who it is,' said King Arthur, 'but I will not tell you
yet.'

'Sir,' answered Sir Gawaine, 'I should say it was Sir Lancelot by the
blows he deals and the manner that he rides, but it cannot be he, for
this man has a red sleeve upon his helmet, and Sir Lancelot has
never borne the token of any lady.'

[Illustration: ELAINE TIES HER SLEEVE ROUND SIR LANCELOT'S HELMET]

'Let him be,' said Sir Arthur, 'you will find out his name, and see
him do greater deeds yet, before he departs.' And the Knights that
were fighting against the King's party took heart again, for before
they feared they would be beaten. But when Sir Bors saw this, he
called unto him the Knights that were of kin to Sir Lancelot, and they
banded together to make a great charge, and threw Sir Lancelot's horse
to the ground, and by misfortune the spear of Sir Bors broke, and its
head was left in Sir Lancelot's side. When Sir Lavaine saw that, he
unhorsed the King of Scots, and brought his horse to Sir Lancelot, and
helped him mount thereon and gave him a spear, with which Sir Lancelot
smote Sir Bors to the earth and Sir Ector de Maris, the foster-father
of King Arthur, and buffeted sorely the Knights that were with them.
Afterward he hurled himself into the thick _melee_ of them all, and
did the most wonderful deeds that ever were heard of. And Sir Lavaine
likewise did well that day, for he smote down full two Knights of the
Round Table. 'Mercy,' again cried Sir Gawaine to Arthur, 'I marvel
what Knight that is with the red sleeve.'

'That you shall know soon,' said King Arthur, and commanded that the
trumpets should be blown, and declared that the prize belonged to the
Knight with the white shield, who bare the red sleeve, for he had
unhorsed more than thirty Knights. And the Kings and Lords who were of
his party came round him and thanked him for the help he had given
them, by which means