without more words he sprang into the saddle. 'You
may take my horse by force,' said the King, 'but I should like to
prove first which of us two is the better horseman.'

[Illustration: ARTHUR AND THE QUESTING BEAST]

'Well,' answered the Knight, 'when you want me, come to this spring.
Here you will always find me,' and, spurring his horse, he galloped
away. The King watched him till he was out of sight, then turned to
his squire and bade him bring another horse as quickly as he could.
While he was waiting for it the wizard Merlin came along in the
likeness of a boy, and asked the King why he was so thoughtful.

'I may well be thoughtful,' replied the King, 'for I have seen the
most wonderful sight in all the world.'

'That I know well,' said Merlin, 'for I know all your thoughts. But it
is folly to let your mind dwell on it, for thinking will mend nothing.
I know, too, that Uther Pendragon was your father, and your mother was
the Lady Igraine.'

'How can a boy like you know that?' cried Arthur, growing angry; but
Merlin only answered, 'I know it better than any man living,' and
passed, returning soon after in the likeness of an old man of
fourscore, and sitting down by the well to rest.

'What makes you so sad?' asked he.

'I may well be sad,' replied Arthur, 'there is plenty to make me so.
And besides, there was a boy here who told me things that he had no
business to know, and among them the names of my father and mother.'

'He told you the truth,' said the old man, 'and if you would have
listened he could have told you still more; how that your sister shall
have a child who shall destroy you and all your Knights.'

'Who are you?' asked Arthur, wondering.

'I am Merlin, and it was I who came to you in the likeness of a boy. I
know all things; how that you shall die a noble death, being slain in
battle, while my end will be shameful, for I shall be put alive into
the earth.'

There was no time to say more, for the man brought up the King's
horse, and he mounted, and rode fast till he came to Carlion.

_THE SWORD EXCALIBUR_

King Arthur had fought a hard battle with the tallest Knight in all
the land, and though he struck hard and well, he would have been slain
had not Merlin enchanted the Knight and cast him into a deep sleep,
and brought the King to a hermit who had studied the art of healing,
and cured all his wounds in three days. Then Arthur and Merlin waited
no longer, but gave the hermit