d as the beast leaped upon him, he seized its head
in his hands. Then he slowly, slowly, bent its head back. It was
a strong lion, and with the effort the muscles on Brune's neck
stood out like great ropes. Presently, the queen and Brune heard
a loud crack and they knew that the lion's neck was broken. Brune
loosed his hold, and the huge tawny body dropped to the ground,
quivered a moment, and was still.

While this was going on, the king and his knights returned. They
saw at a glance what Brune had done, and cheered him loudly. The
king rode up to him.

"Kneel down," he said.

Brune knelt down by the body of the lion, and the king touched
him lightly with his sword, saying:

"Sir Brune, I make you a knight of my Round Table. Be always
loyal, brave, and merciful."

Then all the knights were glad, but Sir Brune was gladdest of
all.

[Illustration: The Two Horses]

[Illustration] SIR LANCELOT & SIR BRUNE

After Sir Brune, the Knight with the Badly Made Coat, had been at
Arthur's Court for some months, he became eager to seek for the
enemy of his father. Sir Lancelot, who took an interest in the
big young knight, advised him to wait and try his strength at
some smaller adventure first.

One day, when Sir Lancelot was away hunting, a damsel entered
Arthur's hall. She carried a black shield which had painted on it
a white hand holding a sword. She bowed to the king and said:

"My lord, I come for a knight to undertake the adventure of the
black shield."

"And what is that adventure, fair damsel?" asked the king.

"That I may not tell you," answered the damsel, "except that it
will cause much fighting and bloodshed to the knight who chooses
it."

Some of the knights were eager to go, and Sir Kay pressed forward
to finger the shield.

"Do not touch it, good Sir Kay," said the maiden, "for this
adventure is not for you. I am to choose the knight."

She passed up and down the hall, looking into the face of each
one. When she had seen them all she came back to Sir Brune and
said:

"Young Knight with the Ugly Coat, will you take this shield?"

"Gladly, if my king allows," said the knight.

Then Arthur gave his permission, and Sir Brune followed the
damsel out of the hall. Her horse was black, and wore white
trappings. Sir Brune's horse was as brown as an autumn leaf. The
two mounted and rode away. Sir Brune began to talk to the damsel,
whose name was Elinor. At first she was agreeable, but after