In the Court of King Arthur, Samuel E. Lowe [best color ereader TXT] 📗

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 such pursuers as might come.

But none pursued.

"I think they will find a task on hand to care for the other prisoners the open dungeon door unloosed," Sir Galahad said.

"And with the wonder over Sir Dolphus," Sir Launcelot added and his look was far away.

A day later found them at the castle of Sanscourt. Happy was my Lady Jeanne over the return of her dear children and grateful, too. It did not take long for them to prepare to go forth to England with Sir Launcelot and Merlin.

So they bade each the other goodbye. And as they went forth, Sir Galahad watching them go, said to the Lady Jeanne,

"Still hope, my lady. For I shall bring or send you word of Sir Vilard, good or bad."

"I shall never cease to hope, Sir Galahad. And I shall pray for you, each day until you return."

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE Facing the East

So then the trio turned toward the East seeking but never finding that all elusive Grail which seemed ever ahead of them. Strange lands they passed through and it left them with wonderment at the bigness of the world in which they lived.

For Sir Galahad and for the boy Charles, each day brought the wonder of new things to see. For Walker, the Squire, though he would not make confession to his master, there grew the wish to see again the pleasant green of England's shore. None of the wonders of these strange lands held allure for him, since they but proved England's greater worth.

But when twitted by his master he would make no confession of his home-sickness.

"Nay master. I am a man and would hold it weak whimsy to let yearning for my home land encompass me. I go where you will and soon enough will I make return to our home shores."

And the Grail, Symbol of Honor, of Faith, of Service and of Piety! No nearer to the finding did the young knight appear to be. Even so, the zest for it, the need for finding it stayed ever with him.

So he reached Rome and stayed in it for many days. Many strangers were there from many lands but few who knew of the Holy Grail. And none who could tell him where it could be found.

"I would seek, were I you, in the Holy Land," said one pious man. While still another thought so holy a thing would never be permitted to go so far as England and that the knight's search was fruitless.

From Rome Sir Galahad went north to Lombardy in search of news of Sir Vilard. Long was his search here but not hopeless. Nor need we make record of how at last he found that the Gascon was not dead but imprisoned with some of the other knights of that ill fated group. And when ransom was agreed to, he returned to Rome and sent a message to Sir Launcelot by a friendly English knight to find the Lady Jeanne and have sent to him the ransom desired.

Months passed. Then came Ambrose and with him the gold for the freedom of his father and his companions. So that they were free. Only then did Sir Galahad go on.

He reached the Holy Land in company with others, men who came there to pay reverence, men who came to repent of many sins, men who ever restless must journey everywhere. And on the way he had gained the friendship of an old priest whose journey he had made somewhat the lighter by such help as youth may offer old age.

The priest had been greatly interested in the mission of the knight. Many were his questions, of where Sir Galahad had traveled, how far he purposed to journey in his search.

"My journeys shall not cease, good father, until I have found the Grail. For so have I set my whole life that I may find it. And time counts not. Though I wish it could be found right soon for then may I turn my face to England." Since Sir Galahad had spoken of Yosalinde, the priest understood.

"What then, Sir Knight, makes you think you will find the Grail in far lands?" the priest asked.

"It must need be so, since were it nearer home it would have been found long since."

To which the priest made no answer.

Days later, when they were gathered about again he told the story of Elam, the son of Anner, who had a great desire to gain wisdom and knowledge.

"So then, young friends, he started out to learn from all the founts of wisdom. Far he traveled and much he learned."

And then the reverend man gave long account of the places to which Elam had gone and the things he had learned. It was a tale of many years and it took time in the telling.

"Then when he had learned much of the wisdom of the then world and had gained in knowledge, he returned home. And when he was there but a few days, lo, he found that yet had his father Anner, greater knowledge than he and wisdom more profound. And he knew this now, returned home from all his sojournings. Nor would he have known this unless he had traveled far, for my sons, it was in this way that he gained the vision to see. Of a truth, it was then that he knew that his father was wisest of men and well could he learn from him."

"I have not heard of this man Elam, before," Sir Galahad said. "Yet had he great need to travel, if he gained this vision to see."

"True and well spoken, Sir Knight," replied the priest and watched him keenly.

CHAPTER THIRTY Homeward

Still further did Sir Galahad have a mind to travel but he found from learned men that to go further East was to travel into uncertainties which few had ventured before him. Nor would he have paused even then, were it not that he realized well that little likelihood was there for the Lost Grail to be found in the far East.

So he turned his face west again. Slowly he made his way home. There were days now, he misdoubted the success of his search and he questioned his own worthiness.

After months and months of travel he reached France once again. When he came to Gascony he found the rightful ruler on the throne and the house of Sanscourt, well and happy. Great was the welcome given the knight by the happy family and a great feast was held for them. The Lady Jeanne was radiant with the happiness which had returned after seeming desertion.

"We owe you much, Sir Galahad," said Sir Vilard, "so very much that it is beyond repayment."

"Mine and Sir Launcelot's was the joy of service, my lord. That you must well understand."

When they reached Normandy, Charles was given a happy reception. He had grown, and had profited well by his travels and service to Sir Galahad whom he would not leave now. For he hoped to be made a knight by him. In Normandy, Sir Galahad stayed for more than a month. He had acquired great fame because of his travels and deeds yet did he find small pleasure in this for the great purpose of his journeys had failed.

It was on a day just before he was to return to England. He had mounted the Seeker and without companion had gone forth for the morning. His thoughts were of the Grail, of his great wish to find it, and ever with his thoughts the wish to prove to Yosalinde that it was in him to find it. Well he knew that she would understand his desire even though he could not bring to her the fulfillment of that desire.

"Yet who am I to find myself disheartened. I must not question, keep ever seeking." So he thought to himself and gave no heed to where the Seeker carried him.

Nor did it seem strange to the knight that he found himself in a narrow path of the woods and before him the strange monk who had first given him urge to seek the Holy Grail.

"I greet you, holy father. Nor can I say to you that I have yet proven worthy of the finding of that which I have long sought."

"Yet have you traveled far, my son. Is it not so?"

"Far and to many lands, holy sir. But nowhere have I found that which brought me nearer to it."

"Too, I know how worthy of the finding you are. Well have you kept your purpose high, knightly have your deeds been?"

"Holy father, I have but tried. Ever have I kept your words before me. And deem it all worth the while, even though it end with my not finding the Grail. For, father, this will I always say, that joy has there been in the seeking."

"Think you then, my son, you will not find it?" the monk asked.

"I know not, father. Think me not grown tired of the search. Think not that I complain that the search is long or arduous. I shall go on seeking where the call may lead me. And ever seek to be worthy of finding it. He who decides all things shall decide as to that. Nor will He find me ever questioning. For this I have found. God is good and His ways are ever for the best."

"Glad am I to hear that the search goes on. My blessing goes with you. Well have I kept the count of all the days of your journeyings and great is my pride in you. So son, seek on for who can tell what the morrow brings."

Then the holy man left him. Yet Sir Galahad did not go until long after sundown. And when he did, doubled was the strength of his purpose.

And on the morrow he was on his way to England.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE The Beggar And The Grail

England to Charles, was indeed strange but so much had Walker spoken thereof that he looked forward to seeing it as if it were his native land. The joy of Walker at its nearness, though he tried to hide it under pretended calm was yet a thing quite obvious to Sir Galahad and the boy and much did it amuse them.

"Of all the fair lands we have passed through, have you yet found none that pleased you more, good Walker?" the knight asked him.

"There is but one heaven, my master and there is but one England," replied Walker.

"Then must I confess my sorrow at keeping you this long time from heaven," said his master with mock regret.

"Nay, master, one can only know heaven when one has seen all the other places. Too, I care not even for England when my master is not there."

"Kind words, good Walker. And spoke I ten times as kindly, yet could I not do justice to how much you have counted and how well. Will I say this, that I find it sweet to know that we are so near to England's shores and that it is but a few days when we shall again find ourselves at home. I would see all our friends, the good king, Sir Percival, Sir Gareth, Sir Launcelot and the others. This wind that fills these sails cannot blow too strong for me."

Well did the wind hold yet did it seem as if the next days were over long. At last they were but a half day from the great castle of King Arthur.

Now as they rode, adventure there had been none since they had left Normandy, they were stopped by a strange beggar who sought alms. Sick did he seem, ragged and wretched, and