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Chapter XIV
”
“Thatshallneverbe,”saidhe.Andwrappinghismantleroundhisarmheunbarredthedooralittlespace,sothatbutonecouldenter.
ThenfirstrushedinSirChalaunce,afullstrongknight,andlifteduphisswordtosmiteSirLancelot;butlightlyheavoidedhim,andstruckSirChalaunce,withhishand,suchasorebuffetontheheadasfelledhimdeaduponthefloor.
ThenSirLancelotpulledinhisbodyandbarredthedooragain,anddressedhimselfinhisarmour,andtookhisdrawnswordinhishand.
Butstilltheknightscriedmightilywithoutthedoor,“Traitor,comeforth!”
“Besilentanddepart,”repliedSirLancelot;“forbeyesureyewillnottakeme,andto-morrowwillImeetyefacetofacebeforetheking.”
“Yeshallhavenosuchgrace,”theycried;“butwewillslaythee,ortaketheeaswelist.”
“Thensaveyourselveswhomay,”hethundered,andtherewithsuddenlyunbarredthedoorandrushedforthatthem.AndatthefirstblowheslewSirAgravaine,andafterhimtwelveotherknights,withtwelvemoremightybuffets.AndnoneofallescapedhimsaveSirModred,who,sorelywounded,fledawayforlife.
Thenreturnedhetothequeen,andsaid,“Now,madam,willIdepart,andifyebeinanydangerIprayyecometome.”
“SurelywillIstayhere,forIamqueen,”sheanswered;“yetifto-morrowanyharmcometomeItrusttotheeforrescue.”
“Haveyenodoubtofme,”saidhe,“foreverwhileIliveamIyourowntrueknight.”
Therewithhetookhisleave,andwentandtoldSirBorsandallhiskindredofthisadventure.
