Hector.

The man answered:

"Sir, a mile from here is a strong castle. On one side of it is a
large stream, and by that stream a large tree. At the foot of the
tree is a basin of copper. Go and strike on that three times with
your spear and you will meet with an adventure."

"Thank you heartily," said Sir Hector.

He rode on and soon came to the tree. Hanging on it were a great
many shields, and among them Sir Lionel's. There were also
shields which belonged to other knights of the Round Table. Sir
Hector knew that the knights must be prisoners, and he grew very
angry.

He struck sharply on the copper basin, and at once a huge knight
appeared.

"Come forward and fight!" cried the knight.

"That I will," said Sir Hector.

"But I shall win," said the knight, "for I am the great Sir
Turquaine."

Sir Hector had heard of this powerful knight whom so many of
Arthur's lords had tried in vain to overthrow. But he was a brave
old man, and so he began to fight fearlessly. He wounded the big
knight once, but the knight wounded him many times, and at last
overcame him. He picked Sir Hector up and carried him under his
right arm into the castle.

"You are very brave," he said, when they had reached the great
hall. "You are the first knight who has wounded me these twelve
years. Now I shall give you your freedom if you will swear to be
a follower of mine."

"I shall never swear that," said Sir Hector; "I am a follower of
King Arthur."

"I am sorry for that," said Sir Turquaine, "for now I must treat
you as I do all my other prisoners."

Then he took off Sir Hector's armor and clothes, and beat him
with the thorny stick, and threw him into the dungeon. There the
old man found Sir Lionel and many other knights.

"Is Sir Lancelot here?" asked Sir Hector, feebly.

"No," said Sir Lionel, and told how he had left Sir Lancelot
sleeping.

Then Sir Hector became cheerful.

"Sir Lancelot will surely find us," he said, "and give us our
freedom."

But Sir Lancelot still slept on under the tree. Soon four
beautiful ladies rode by, and, seeing a sleeping knight,
dismounted to look at him. They at once recognized him as Sir
Lancelot, the bravest knight in the land. One of these ladies was
Morgan le Fay, whom Arthur had forgiven for her treachery to him.
She said to her companions:

"I will cast a spell over him, and we will carry him to my
castle. Then, when he wakes, we will make him choose one of us as
his wife."