stroked it, and put his arms about its neck. When
he mounted his horse, the beast followed him, refusing to go
away. Then Sir Ivaine made up his mind that they were to be
companions.

For many days the two kept close together, and at night Sir
Ivaine would go to sleep with his head on the lion's neck. One
day, as they came to a square castle set in a meadow, some people
who stood on the castle walls began to shoot arrows at the lion,
but Sir Ivaine stopped them, telling them that the animal was
tame.

Then they told him that it was their rule that no one should pass
by that castle without doing battle with their lord. Sir Ivaine
told them that he was quite willing to obey their rule; so they
opened the castle gate. They said he must make his lion stay
outside, but Sir Ivaine refused to do this. He promised, however,
to make the lion lie down quietly; then the two were allowed to
enter.

The courtyard was a large paved place, in which there were a
score of armed men. Presently the lord of the castle came
forward. This lord was much larger than Sir Ivaine, and the lion,
on seeing him, began to lash its tail. But Sir Ivaine ordered it
to be still, and it at once obeyed.

Then Sir Ivaine and the knight battled together. The knight was
powerful, but Sir Ivaine was very agile and skillful. He was not
able to strike so hard as could his enemy, but he was better able
to avoid blows. Therefore it was not long before he got the
advantage and overthrew the lord.

When this happened, the lord called for help, and ordered his
armed men to kill Sir Ivaine. The whole twenty began to obey this
treacherous order, but just as they were about to fall upon Sir
Ivaine, the lion bounded among them, roaring savagely. With a few
strokes of its powerful paws it disabled the men. Sir Ivaine
told the lord of the castle that he must ride to Camelot and give
himself up to Arthur to be judged for his treachery. Then Sir
Ivaine rode away from the castle; and now that the lion had saved
his life, he became very fond of the animal.

[Illustration: _"He dismounted and poured water into the
fountain"_]

After many days of travel, Sir Ivaine reached the forest in the
midst of which was the castle of the Black Knight. He rode to the
platform of stone, dismounted and poured water into the fountain.
As before, a storm arose, and at its height the Black Knight
appeared.

He recognized the armor of Sir Ivaine, and said:

"Aha! I see I did not k