In the Court of King Arthur Part 24

As they walked away from the prison door, he turned to the other.

"Strange that she should be all alone. Has she no one who would make you trouble?"

"Her father went forth with the Duke and others among us to the land of the infidels. On our way back, in Lombardy, our small force was overcome by disaster. But three of us escaped, I know not what happened to the others. Then it was, I decided to possess the land of the Sanscourt and told the Lady Jeanne that her husband wished and commanded that her daughter Helene marry me. But she would have none of this. So that I had to steal the damsel. And when her brother came here to rescue her, we overcame the helpless youth. He would not have lived had I my way, but the others would not permit that and so we have him safely lodged in the dungeon below and I fancy he will not abuse our hospitality for long."

That night Sir Launcelot spoke to the others and told what he had heard. Great was his rage, which he had curbed so well when in the presence of the other.

"I would," Merlin spoke in great gloom, "that we were well out of this."

"We can be well out of it when the youth and girl are also safely out," Sir Galahad replied and there was a stern look in his eye.

"Tomorrow we shall find the dungeon place. Then will we act quickly.

But also we must see to it that this false knight receives his just deserts. Is it not so, Launcelot?"

"Tomorrow, it shall be," the other replied. "And I myself, shall deal with this Sir Dolphus, for I have had to listen to his foulness without demur."

So they planned. And the next day, Sir Galahad professed a great desire to see the whole of the castle. And so was shown in due course the great dungeon and saw there, the weak and spent lad, Ambrose.

That night, Sir Dolphus and Sir Launcelot went by themselves to the chamber of the former to make merry. And there, Sir Dolphus who counted the other's sympathy as beyond doubt, told more of his knavish plots. Until the listener sick with listening turned to him in the quiet and secrecy of the great chamber and said in stern tones.

"Sir Dolphus, I would advise you to pray now. For you die in three minutes!"

Nor did the other mistake the voice, the tone. Nor even make pretense to misunderstand. Instead he made as if to raise a great shout. But found the other's mighty hand closed over his foul mouth so that his call for aid was unuttered. And the hand remained there--even as the owner forced him to his knees with no great effort.

"Pray, if you will. Your time is almost gone."

But the wretch groaned and squirmed and tried to escape the hold that held viselike over him.

It was five minutes later that Sir Launcelot left the room. There was a grim, fixed look on his face that few had ever seen before.

He joined the others. And then while [he] and Gouvernail went to the prison chamber of the damsel, Helene, and rescued her with little effort, Sir Galahad went down to the dungeon door and there overcame the guard with ease and opened the door wide with the keys obtained.

And Walker carried the weak lad to the entrance door and so they joined the others.

So then Sir Galahad and Sir Launcelot with the two squires went for and obtained their horses, without suspicion. With the two they had rescued, the whole party rode forth from the castle. And but for the outcry of the guards at the gate which they forced them to open wide, they had no one to cope with.

Forth they road swiftly, Merlin carrying the young girl and Charles supporting the boy, leaving the others free to ride behind and meet such pursuers as might come.

But none pursued.

"I think they will find a task on hand to care for the other prisoners the open dungeon door unloosed," Sir Galahad said.

"And with the wonder over Sir Dolphus," Sir Launcelot added and his look was far away.

A day later found them at the castle of Sanscourt. Happy was my Lady Jeanne over the return of her dear children and grateful, too. It did not take long for them to prepare to go forth to England with Sir Launcelot and Merlin.

So they bade each the other goodbye. And as they went forth, Sir Galahad watching them go, said to the Lady Jeanne,

"Still hope, my lady. For I shall bring or send you word of Sir Vilard, good or bad."

"I shall never cease to hope, Sir Galahad. And I shall pray for you, each day until you return."

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Facing the East

So then the trio turned toward the East seeking but never finding that all elusive Grail which seemed ever ahead of them. Strange lands they pa.s.sed through and it left them with wonderment at the bigness of the world in which they lived.

For Sir Galahad and for the boy Charles, each day brought the wonder of new things to see. For Walker, the Squire, though he would not make confession to his master, there grew the wish to see again the pleasant green of England's sh.o.r.e. None of the wonders of these strange lands held allure for him, since they but proved England's greater worth.

But when twitted by his master he would make no confession of his home-sickness.

"Nay master. I am a man and would hold it weak whimsy to let yearning for my home land encompa.s.s me. I go where you will and soon enough will I make return to our home sh.o.r.es."

And the Grail, Symbol of Honor, of Faith, of Service and of Piety! No nearer to the finding did the young knight appear to be. Even so, the zest for it, the need for finding it stayed ever with him.

So he reached Rome and stayed in it for many days. Many strangers were there from many lands but few who knew of the Holy Grail. And none who could tell him where it could be found.

"I would seek, were I you, in the Holy Land," said one pious man.

While still another thought so holy a thing would never be permitted to go so far as England and that the knight's search was fruitless.

From Rome Sir Galahad went north to Lombardy in search of news of Sir Vilard. Long was his search here but not hopeless. Nor need we make record of how at last he found that the Gascon was not dead but imprisoned with some of the other knights of that ill fated group. And when ransom was agreed to he returned to Rome and sent a message to Sir Launcelot by a friendly English knight to find the Lady Jeanne and have sent to him the ransom desired.

Months pa.s.sed. Then came Ambrose and with him the gold for the freedom of his father and his companions. So that they were free. Only then did Sir Galahad go on.

He reached the Holy Land in company with others, men who came there to pay reverence, men who came to repent of many sins, men who ever restless must journey everywhere. And on the way he had gained the friendship of an old priest whose journey he had made somewhat the lighter by such help as youth may offer old age.

The priest had been greatly interested in the mission of the knight.

Many were his questions, of where Sir Galahad had traveled, how far he purposed to journey in his search.

"My journeys shall not cease, good father, until I have found the Grail. For so have I set my whole life that I may find it. And time counts not. Though I wish it could be found right soon for then may I turn my face to England." Since Sir Galahad had spoken of Yosalinde, the priest understood.

"What then, Sir Knight, makes you think you will find the Grail in far lands?" the priest asked.

"It must need be so, since were it nearer home it would have been found long since."

To which the priest made no answer.

Days later, when they were gathered about again he told the story of Elam, the son of Anner, who had a great desire to gain wisdom and knowledge.

"So then, young friends, he started out to learn from all the founts of wisdom. Far he traveled and much he learned."

And then the reverend man gave long account of the places to which Elam had gone and the things he had learned. It was a tale of many years and it took time in the telling.

"Then when he had learned much of the wisdom of the then world and had gained in knowledge, he returned home. And when he was there but a few days, lo, he found that yet had his father Anner, greater knowledge than he and wisdom more profound. And he knew this now, returned home from all his sojournings. Nor would he have known this unless he had traveled far, for my sons, it was in this way that he gained the vision to see. Of a truth, it was then that he knew that his father was wisest of men and well could he learn from him."

"I have not heard of this man Elam, before," Sir Galahad said. "Yet had he great need to travel, if he gained this vision to see."