e words they turned upon him, all three striking at him together,
and forcing him to defend himself. Kay would have come to his aid, but
he cried out,--

"I will have none of your help. Stand off and leave me alone, or fight
them yourself."

At this Kay stood aside, and Lancelot attacked the three miscreants so
fiercely that within six strokes he felled them all to the ground. They
now begged for mercy, yielding to him as a man of matchless skill.

"I will not take your yielding," he replied. "Yield to Sir Kay, here,
whom you foully over-matched."

"You ask too much of us, fair sir. It is not just that we should yield
to him whom we would have vanquished but for you."

"Think well," returned Lancelot. "You shall yield or die. The choice is
yours."

"That is a choice with but one side. Yield we must, if death is the
alternative."

"Then I bid you on Whitsunday next, to present yourselves to Queen
Guenever at King Arthur's court, and put yourselves in her grace and
mercy, saying that Sir Kay sent you there as prisoners."

This they took oath to do, each knight swearing upon his sword;
whereupon Lancelot suffered them to depart.

He now knocked at the gate with the pommel of his sword, till his host
came, who started with surprise on seeing him there.

"I thought you were safe a-bed," he said.

"So I was. But I sprang from the window to help an old fellow of mine."

When they came to the light, Kay recognized Lancelot, and fell on his
knees to thank him for saving his life.

"What I have done is nothing but what duty and good fellowship
demanded," said Lancelot. "Are you hungry?"

"Half starved," answered Kay.

"Mayhap our good host can find you food."

Meat was thereupon brought, of which Kay ate heartily, after which he
and Lancelot sought their beds in the gate chamber.

But in the morning Lancelot rose while Kay was still asleep, and took
his guest's armor and shield, leaving his own. Then he proceeded to the
stable, mounted his horse, and rode away. Shortly afterwards Kay awoke,
and quickly perceived what his comrade had done.

"Good," he said, with a laugh. "Lancelot is after some sport. I fancy
that more than one knight will get more than he bargains for if he
thinks he has me to deal with. As for me, with Lancelot's armor and
shield, I shall be left to ride in peace, for few, I fancy, will trouble
me."

Kay thereupon put on Lancelot's armor, and, thanking his host, rode
away. Meanwhile Lanc