"It is no brew of mine, good Arthur. Yet were I he and you had such
good cause to laugh at me, I wonder if I would not rather hang."

So King Arthur turned to King Mark. Laughter was in his eye, mocking
laughter. About him the others gathered and these, too, seemed
laughing at him.

"I offer you advice, Mark, which so it seems to me, you would do well
to heed. Keep not your doors so wide open hereafter. Knaves like these
are too apt to accept such hospitality. And, good Mark, when next you
go a hunting, I fancy, you had best hunt at home. It is safer and for
one thing you are sure to have it. 'Tis a sad state for you to find
these men making themselves at home while you are away on so peaceful
a mission. 'Tis a sad pity and should not be permitted."

"Tis sad,'tis sad," said the men about King Arthur.

King Mark scowled in fury. And somehow, it seemed, he scowled most at
his own nephew, Tristram.

[Illustration]




CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

The Kitchen Boy Again