ight roused to fury, and each fighting with his utmost skill and
strength; but Accolan lost scarcely a drop of blood, while Arthur's
life-blood flowed so freely that only his knightly soul and unyielding
courage kept him on his feet. He grew so feeble that he felt as if
death was upon him, yet, though he staggered like a drunken man, he
faced Accolan with the unquenched spirit of a noble knight.

All who saw the field marvelled that Arthur could fight after such a
loss of blood. So valiant a knight none there had ever beheld, and many
prayed the two brothers to come into accord and stop this deadly fray.
But this Damas would not do, and though Ontzlake trembled for his cause
he could not end the combat.

At this juncture Arthur withdrew a little to rest, but Accolan called
him fiercely to the fight, saying, "I shall not suffer you to rest;
neither of us must rest except in death."

With these words he advanced towards the king, who, with the strength of
rage, sprang upon him and struck him so mighty a blow on the helm as to
make him totter on his feet and nearly fall. But the blow had a serious
ending, for Arthur's sword broke at the cross, the blade falling into
the blood-stained grass, and only the hilt and pommel remaining in his
hand.

When Arthur saw himself thus disarmed he felt sure that his hour of
death had come, yet he let not his dread be seen, but held up his shield
and lost no ground, facing his mortal foe as boldly as though he was
trebly armed.

"Sir knight," cried Accolan, "you are overcome, and can no longer
sustain the battle. You are weaponless, and have lost so much blood that
I am loath to slay you. Therefore yield to me as recreant, and force me
not to kill a helpless foe."

"That I may not do," said Arthur. "I have promised, by the faith of my
body, to fight this battle to the uttermost; and I had rather die in
honor than live in shame. If I lack weapon, I lack not spirit; and if
you slay me weaponless, the shame be on you."

"That shame I can bear," said Accolan. "What I have sworn I will
perform. Since you will not yield, you are a dead man."

This said, he struck Arthur a furious blow, that almost felled him to
the earth, bidding him at the same time to crave for mercy if he would
live. Arthur's only reply was to press upon him with his shield, and
deal him such a buffet with the pommel of his sword as to send him
staggering three paces back.

And now the damsel Nimue, stirred by the