oes, and Morgan le Fay is justly punished for her
treachery. It grieves me, indeed, that so heavy a fate has befallen her,
yet her own deeds have brought on her this mighty punishment."

Then he sought on all sides for the scabbard, but it could nowhere be
found. Disappointed in this, he at length turned and rode slowly back
with his companion to the abbey whence they had come, their souls filled
with wonder and awe.

Yet no sooner were they well gone than the enchantress brought another
charm to work, and at once she and all her people were turned again from
stone into flesh and blood.

"Now we can go where we will; and may joy go with King Arthur," she
said, with a laugh of triumph to her knights. "Did you note him?"

"Yes," they replied. "And his countenance was so warlike that had we not
been stone we could scarce have stood before him."

"I believe you," said Morgan. "He would have made sad havoc among us but
for my spells."

They now rode onward, and soon afterwards met a knight who bore before
him on his horse another knight, who was unarmed, blindfolded, and bound
hand and foot.

"What are you about to do with that knight?" asked Morgan.

"To drown him in yonder fountain," was the reply. "He has caused my wife
to prove false to me, and only his death will avenge my honor."

"Is this the truth?" she asked the bound knight.

"It is false," he replied. "He is a villain to whom I have done no
wrong. He took me unawares or I should not have been in such a state."

"Who are you, and of what country?"

"My name is Manassen. I am of the court of King Arthur, and cousin to
Accolan of Gaul."

"Then for the love I bore your cousin you shall be delivered, and this
villain be put in your plight."

By her orders Manassen was loosed from his bonds and the other knight
bound. Manassen took from him his armor and horse, and riding with him
to the fountain, flung him remorselessly in, where he met the fate
which he had devised for his late prisoner. Then Manassen rode back to
Morgan, and asked her if she had any word to send King Arthur.

"Tell him," she answered, "that I rescued you not for love of him, but
of Accolan; and that I fear him not while I can turn myself and my
knights into stones. Let him know that you saw us riding in good flesh
and blood, and laughing him to scorn. Tell him, moreover, that I can do
stranger things than that if the need should come."

Bidding Manassen to return with this message,