CHAPTER I.
THE KNIGHTING OF KAY'S KITCHEN BOY.
King Arthur had, early in his reign, established the custom that at the feast of Pentecost he would never dine until he had seen or heard of some marvellous event. Through that custom many strange adventures were brought to his notice. It happened on one day of Pentecost that the king held his Round Table at a castle called Kinkenadon, on the borders of Wales. On that day, a little before noon, as Gawaine looked from a window, he saw three men on horseback and a dwarf on foot approaching the castle. When they came near the men alighted, and, leaving their horses in care of the dwarf, they walked towards the castle-gate. One of these men was very tall, being a foot and a half higher than his companions.
On seeing this, Gawaine went to the king and said,—
"Sire, I deem you can now safely go to your dinner, for I fancy we have an adventure at hand."
KING ARTHUR'S ROUND TABLE, WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL.
The king thereupon went to the table with his knights and the kings who were guests at his court. They were but well seated when there came into the hall two men, richly attired, upon whose shoulders leaned the fairest and handsomest young man that any there had ever seen. In body he was large and tall, with broad shoulders and sturdy limbs, yet he moved as if he could not bear himself erect, but needed support from his comrades' shoulders.
When Arthur saw this youth he bade those around him to make room, and the stranger with his companions walked up to the high dais without speaking.