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1 64 MOONFOLK.
and his hands were loosely tied by one end of a long
rope, the other end of which was bound tightly arouno
the arms of a knight, in whom Ehoda recognized with
a shudder Sir Guy du Fontaine.
Followed by these his captives, Sir Lancelot strode
up the hall until, reaching the head of the centre table,
he stopped, and addressing the king, said :
" I have, first of all, my Lord Arthur, to crave pardon
for appearing thus before your majesty but mine errand
;
must be my excuse, for I first bring you a false and
forsworn knight, whom but this morning I conquered
fairly, and who with my dagger at his throat yielded
himself my prisoner, passing his word, as knight and
me or a
gentleman, to practise nothing farther against
certain lady whom I had the good fortune to rescue
from his hands. After that, losing my horse, I was making
my way through the wood on foot, when I again
encountered mine enemy, who' seeing me dismounted
and partially disarmed, set upon me with murderous
intent; and but that God and my Lady helped me, he had
slain me. But in the end I conquered once again, so
wounding
him that I think he will be content to rest
awhile from his evil deeds. Then mounting my captive's
horse, and leading him, pinioned as you see him,
I rode softly on until at a turn of the road I came upon
this giant carrying the dwarf. He was driving before
him a herd of beeves, of which he had robbed a luckless
hind, taking him captive also. Perceiving me, the