'Now, swear on God's book and the holy relics how thou didst get this sword.'
Sir Kay's heart went weak, and he stammered out the truth.
'How gat you this sword?' asked Sir Ector of Arthur.
'Sir, I will tell you,' said Arthur, and so told him all as it had happened.
Sir Ector marvelled what this should mean; for Arthur had been given to him to nourish and rear as a week-old child by Merlin, but the wizard had only told him that the babe was a son of a dead lady, whose lord had been slain by the pagans.
Then Sir Ector went to the stone and bade Arthur put back the sword into the wedge of steel, which the young man did easily.
Thereupon Sir Ector strove with all his strength to draw the sword forth again, but though he pulled till he sweated, he could not stir the sword.
'Now you essay it,' he said to his son. But naught that Sir Kay could do availed.
'Now do you try,' he bade Arthur.
Arthur lightly grasped the handle with one hand, and the sword came out without hindrance.