In the Court of King Arthur

by Samuel E. Lowe

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  The Party Divides

  When the morning came there was great indecision as to the furtherway, for no new information had come of Sir Tristram. Sir Gawaine nowspoke for going north to Scotland. So too, was Sir Pellimore mindedand Sir Gilbert as well. But Sir Percival spoke for Wales and so didSir Neil.

  "As for me," said Sir Dagonet, "I pick Wales, since Kinkenadon is thenearer to Ireland. My fool's head still fancies that we shall haveneed to turn there ere we shall find this errant knight."

  Neither the King nor Sir Launcelot up to this time had expressed achoice. But now the King vouchsafed a plan.

  "It seems to us good plan for our party to divide. Some of us to gonorth, some west. You Launcelot could well go with one party and wewith the other. What say you friends?"

  That plan suited them all. So then the King went with Sir Gawaine, SirPellimore, and Sir Gilbert, while Sir Launcelot accompanied SirPercival, Sir Neil, Sir Dagonet and Allan. With each party, too, wentthree men-at-arms.

  Our way shall be with Sir Percival.

  At the end of the first half day they found themselves near thecrossroads of Nantwich.

  "We must soon find place for food," remarked Sir Percival and lustilythey all agreed.

  "See you castle beyond yonder crossroads?" questioned Sir Neil, "SirManstor lives there with his three brothers. Right skillful knightsare these but woe the lone stranger who passes by. For these arevillainous four."

  "Right bitterly do you speak of them, Neil," remarked Sir Launcelot."And why?"

  "I pray fortune to permit me to meet with this Manstor. I stoppedthere for food one day. Then did this knight, his brothers by hisside, demand the bag of gold I carried with me. Nor would single oneamong them battle with me. It would have fared ill with me but for twoknights who passing by, came to my aid."

  "Our vow," said Sir Launcelot thoughtfully, "is to find Sir Tristram.Yet can I see no harm in straying from our way an hour or two, canyou, Percival?"

  "Not if there is promise of such entertainment as this," was thereply.

  "These knights," interrupted Sir Neil, "have stomach for neither joustnor other encounter when the odds are not with them. Nor will theyventure to impede our way unless we number less than they."

  "If greater or equal number withholds them," said Sir Dagonet. "Iwould favor them and withdraw. Then would there be one less doughtysword."

  "Aye, Dagonet, we know your unselfish spirit," said Sir Neil andlaughed.

  "The knight does not live who has bested me, nevertheless," repliedthe jester, with pretended heat.

  "The knight does not live who has had the chance," said Sir Percival."Yet we love you none the less, brother."

  Said now Sir Launcelot: "One of us could ride ahead. And, perchance,these scheming knights will think that easy prey comes and so striveto impede the way. Then when they bear down upon him we can appear andgive them such entertainment as they have not had in many a day."

  Now one of the men-at-arms came forward.

  "And if you will, masters, yonder cruel knight is cruel master aswell. And he holds my own brother within his prison walls for smallcause. So I pray you, masters, succor him."

  "Of a surety, Wonkin," said Sir Percival, "we shall make every effortto set your brother free. Neil and I shall go forward and so findourselves seemingly enmeshed by them. Then will you, at proper time,Launcelot, come forward. And if Dagonet so wishes, he can protect ourrear."

  The two knights then hurried on. They had not far to go to the turn ofthe road and there the four knights within the castle grounds, seeingthem, stood watching for a moment or so. Then each mounted his horseand in armor, rode forth from within the walls.

  "We are knights on way to Wales," said Sir Percival in mild tone. "Weseek food for our midday meal."

  "Food we will give you right gladly," replied the oldest of the four."But ask in payment such gold as you may have."

  "That would be poor bargain," replied Sir Percival, still mild spoken."We had liefer go our way to place which seeks not such high pay."

  "That may you well do, strangers, yet must you still leave your goldbehind. For we have great need of it."

  "Yet no greater need for it than have we. Come, comrade, we must be onour way." So spoke Sir Percival to Sir Neil. And now the robberknights were certain that these were but timid men. So out came theirswords as they rode at the two. But they found them ready andwatchful. And though the odds were two to one, it was not hard matterto hold the robbers off until Sir Launcelot came charging into themelee.

  As the four robbers turned to the newcomer and beheld his shield andarmor, they knew that it was Launcelot. And knew too that this wastrap set for them. Thereupon did Sir Manstor withdraw for the momentfrom the struggle and blow horn he carried--two long and one shortnote.

  One of the brothers had already been unhorsed and most grievouslywounded. Sir Manstor now came back to the aid of his brothers and ofthem all he was most skillful. So Sir Launcelot turned to him and him,the robber knight found more than a match.

  But from within the walls came forty and more men at arms, some withbow and arrow and others with club and mace. And with them, two otherknights.

  When Sir Launcelot saw these, he called to his comrades. "Hard atthem, hard."

  For he had in mind to down these three before the others came.

  Then did the three, that is, Launcelot, Percival and Neil withwondrous strength of arm, each by mighty blow, bring rider to theground. And Sir Manstor was dead because of the fearful blow of SirLauncelot. The other two were asprawl on the ground and but barelymoving.

  "I call this right skillfully done," said Sir Dagonet who now cametoward them. He had watched but had not joined in the struggle.

  Now, Wonkin and the two men at arms were there and so was Allan.

  "Will you, good men, try out your bows on these hinds who are comingthitherward?" said Sir Percival.

  Straightway then there flew three well aimed arrows. Then others flewand now answering arrows from the oncomers. But these did not harmfor Wonkin and the other two stood under cover of trees and so werenot easy targets.

  Twice more they let their arrows fly and five men of the forty hadbeen stopped.

  Now as the others came at them with clubs and mace, Sir Launcelotcommanded Wonkin and the other two to withdraw a hundred pace and fromthere continue to let their arrows fly. And this was great wisdom forelse the three could not have long withstood the large number.

  So now the knights with their great lances fought off the villains andthe two knights who were with them. Very few who came within the reachof the long weapons escaped. And from their place the three men atarms shot arrow after arrow into the attackers.

  Three of the knaves had hold of Sir Percival's horse and thereuponothers swarmed upon him and what with the blows of their maces andclubs, he was in sorry plight. Nor could Sir Launcelot turn to helphim for he was in great conflict with the two knights and a largenumber of them on foot and Sir Neil equally so. As for Allan he hadalready ridden down two of the attackers and had brought his weaponwhich was cross between sword and dagger down upon their skulls. Nowas he turned he saw the plight of his lord. So did Sir Dagonet, whothough timid had up to then made some ado to help. Whereupon both spedhard to Sir Percival's aid. And so skillful was the boy that he heweddown several of the knaves and Sir Dagonet too, soon found that othersof Sir Percival's attackers were turning their attention to him. Allof which gave needed time for Sir Percival to escape from hisdifficulty, draw sword and begin anew.

  Now Sir Launcelot brought down the two knights and the others likewolves stood off snarling at him, yet out of reach. Sir Neil too wasfreer.

  There were but ten of the attackers now. The others were either strewnabout the ground or were making their escape. And of these ten, twoeven then were brought down by the arrows of Wonkin and his twocomrades.

  Whereupon the last of the attackers turned and made haste to fly, thethree archers in close purs
uit.

  "These hinds would fair have overswarmed me had not the boy andDagonet come to my aid," remarked Sir Percival as he lifted his helmetfrom his head.

  "How then, Allan, did you like the affray?" inquired Sir Launcelot.

  "Greatly," replied the lad. "But I had wish I carried a lance insteadof this, which is neither dagger nor sword."

  "Right soon, shall these be yours as well, lad. Yet now we have earnedsuch food as we may find within the castle. And I wot not," added SirPercival, "many prisoners, too, who will be glad of freedom."