From spur to plume a star of tournament,
Shot through the lists at Camelot, and charged
Before the eyes of ladies and of kings,"

but a being even more mythical than that Arthur to whom, with his
knights, legend assigns so many last resting-places--in that vast hall
beneath the triple peak of Eildon, here in a cavern below the rocks at
Sewingshields, and in many a spot besides. This Arthur of Sewingshields
in his feats was indeed more akin to the old Norse gods and heroes. And
it is told that, as he talked with his Queen one day when they sat on
those great rocks to the north of the castle, which still bear as names
the King's and the Queen's Crag, Guinevere chanced to let fall a remark
which angered Arthur; whereupon he, snatching up a rock that lay ready
to his hand, hurled it at his royal consort. Now, Guinevere at the
moment was combing her long, fair locks; but she saw the stone come
hurtling through the air, and, with remarkable presence of mind and
dexterity, with her comb she fended off the missile, so that it fell
between them, doing no harm. And if anyone should presume to disbelieve
this tale, there lies the rock to this day, and the marks of the teeth
of the Queen's comb are on it still for all to see. The distance that
the King hurled this missile is not above a quarter of a mile, and the
pebble itself may weigh a trifle of twenty tons or so.

Local tradition tells also how once on a time there came to
Sewingshields, to visit Arthur, a great chieftain from the wild north,
one named Cumin. And when Cumin departed from the castle to go back to
his own land, he bore with him a certain gold cup that Arthur, in token
of friendship, had given to him. But sundry of the King's retainers,
having learned that the Scot was bearing away with him this cup, greatly
desired that they might themselves possess it, and they pursued Cumin,