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