brother Balan, who
came in during the fight, did such mighty deeds of prowess that all who
beheld them said they fought like angels from heaven or devils from
hell, while Arthur beheld their prowess with wonder and delight, and
vowed that he owed to them his victory.

The combat, which took place at the Castle Terrabil, ended in the
complete defeat of Nero, and the destruction of nearly all his host.
Word of this disaster was brought to King Lot, where he lay resting with
his army.

"Alas!" he said, "why did I let myself be beguiled? Had I been there no
host under heaven could have matched us. That false prattler, with his
prophecy, has mocked and befooled me. But what shall now be done? Shall
we treat with Arthur, or is it wise to fight him with half an army?"

"His men are weary with fighting and we are fresh," said a knight. "Now
is the time to set upon him."

"So be it, then. And I hope that every knight will bear himself in the
fray as well as I, for it is no laggard's task we have now before us."

Then with waving banners and serried spears they assailed Arthur's
weary host. But the Round Table Knights, with the aid of the two valiant
brothers Balin and Balan, roused themselves vigorously to the fray, and
bore all before them, so that only where King Lot himself fought did his
host hold its ground. But where he battled in the van all his men seemed
borne up by his valor, and not a knight met him but was overthrown or
forced back by his prowess.

Then King Pellinore pushed through the press of knights and horses, and
struck a mighty stroke at King Lot as he fought at the head of his host.
The sword failed in its aim, but struck the neck of the king's horse, so
that the wounded animal fell to the ground with its rider. Then
Pellinore struck so furious a stroke that his sword cut King Lot's
helmet in twain, and cleft his head to the brows, hurling him lifeless
to the earth.

Seeing their king thus slain, all the host of Orkney turned and fled,
and great was the slaughter in the pursuit. That day there fell in all
twelve kings, who fought with Lot and Nero, and all these were buried in
the church of Saint Stevens at Camelot.

[Illustration: Copyright by Frederick Hollyer, London, England.

KING ARTHUR'S TOMB.]

Of the tombs that were made for these kings that of King Lot was most
richly adorned, and King Arthur had a tomb prepared for himself beside
it. For this he had made twelve images of brass and coppe