youth with eager eyes, and his father, Sir Gaunt, soon came to know of
his son's fancies and was overly proud and pleased with them. For he
himself had, in his days, been a great and worthy knight, of many
adventures and victor of many an onslaught. It pleased him that son of
his would follow in his footsteps.

When Allan was fourteen, Sir Gaunt proceeded to Sir Percival who was
great friend of his and bespoke for his son the place of page. And so
to please Sir Gaunt and for friendship's sake, Sir Percival gave ready
consent. Therewith, he found the youth pleasing to the eye and of a
great willingness to serve.

So must we return to Allan who is now on his way for many an hour. As
he made his way, he marveled that he should have had notice brought
upon himself, for he was young and diffident and should by every token
have escaped attention in these his first days at court. How would his
heart have grown tumultuous had he known that none other than Arthur
himself had made him choice. But that he was not to know for many a
year.

Night came on and the boy traveled far. Yet gave he no thought to rest
for he knew that he could ill afford to tarry and that only with the
best of fortune could he overtake the two knights in time to make
early return. About him the woods were dark and mysterious. Owls
hooted now and then and other sounds of the night there were, yet was
the boy so filled with urge of his mission that he found not time to
think of ghosts nor black magic.

Then, as he turned the road he saw the dim shadow of a horse. Ghostly
it seemed, until through closer view it proved flesh and blood. Lying