Lancelot. He dashed up to Sir Malgrace.

"Here I am, traitor," he said. "Now do your worst."

Then they fought, but at the first stroke Sir Malgrace fell to
the earth.

"Mercy!" he cried, "I yield to you, Sir Knight. Do not slay me. I
put myself in the king's hands and yours."

Sir Lancelot was much vexed. He wanted to kill Sir Malgrace for
his treachery, and yet, since the man had asked for mercy, he
could not. So he said:

"What, coward, would you stop already? Shame upon you! Get up and
fight."

"I shall not rise unless you take me as one who has yielded,"
answered the knight.

Then Sir Lancelot said:

"Traitor, I make you this offer: I will take off my helmet, unarm
my left side, and tie my left hand behind my back. In that way I
will fight with you."

Upon hearing this, Sir Malgrace rose to his feet, sure now of
killing Sir Lancelot.

"My lord King," cried Sir Malgrace, "you have heard this offer. I
accept."

The king was very sorry that Sir Lancelot had made the offer.
However, it was impossible to withdraw it. A squire came and
disarmed Sir Lancelot, so that his head and left side were
without cover; and since he had only one arm to fight with, he
could not use his shield.

Then Sir Malgrace dashed at him, aiming for his left side. Sir
Lancelot waited till he was very near, and then lightly stepped
aside. Before Sir Malgrace could turn, Sir Lancelot lifted his
spear and struck his enemy such a blow that he broke his
breastplate and pierced his heart.

The body of Sir Malgrace was carried off the field and taken to
the castle of his good father; Queen Guinevere was proclaimed
innocent of treason; and Sir Lancelot was honored more than ever
by his king and his queen.

[Illustration: The Two Horses]

[Illustration] SIR LANCELOT AND ELAINE

Every year King Arthur's knights held a grand tournament among
themselves, and contended in friendly combat for a prize. This
prize was a diamond.

Once, in the early days of his kingship, Arthur was walking on a
craggy hill, when he came upon the skeleton of a man who had once
been a ruler. The skull still wore a gold crown set with nine
large diamonds. King Arthur took the crown and had the diamonds
unset. Each year at the friendly tournament he gave one of these
diamonds as a prize.

There had been eight tournaments, and at each Sir Lancelot had
won the diamond. The jewel that was to be given as a prize at the
ninth tournament was the large