"I know better. If any harm, if but one of my knights is hurt, I shall
make you pay right fully."

Now the gates opened wide. There stood Sir Launcelot, and Sir
Tristram, both supporting Sir Percival. Into the castle rode King
Arthur and King Cadoris.

"Have you been hurt? Who else is wounded? Are any dead?" These were
the questions of the king.

So Sir Launcelot told him. And now when the king found that none were
dead and he realized how many men Mark had lost, good humor again came
to him. His eyes twinkled merrily.

"Shall we hang this scurvy king?" he asked.

"If you will, sire," said Sir Tristram. "I fancy he has suffered much
by now. And since he is uncle of mine I beg of you treat him more
gently than he deserves. Let us rather laugh at him. True, there are
some of us who have been wounded, but none fatally."

"And after all," said Sir Percival, "see how _much_ we can
laugh?"

Sir Launcelot too nodded in agreement.

"In truth," King Arthur agreed, "I have found no fancy to act as
hangman to him. For knave and villain though he is, yet is he still a
king. What say you Cadoris?"