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Chapter VI
”
“Sirknight,”saidthetwosquires,“yonderbetwoknightsfightingforthislady;gopartthem,andgettheirconsenttotakeher,erethoutouchher.”
“Yesaywell,”saidKingPellinore,androdebetweenthecombatants,andaskedthemwhytheyfought.
“Sirknight,”saidtheone,“yonladyismycousin,mineaunt’sdaughter,whomImetborneawayagainstherwill,bythisknighthere,withwhomIthereforefighttofreeher.”
“Sirknight,”repliedtheother,whosenamewasHantzlakeofWentland,“thisladygotI,bymyarmsandprowess,atKingArthur’scourtto-day.”
“Thatisfalse,”saidKingPellinore;“yestoletheladysuddenly,andfledawaywithher,beforeanyknightcouldarmtostaythee.Butitismyservicetotakeherbackagain.Neitherofyeshallthereforehaveher;butifyewillfightforher,fightwithmenowandhere.”
“Well,”saidtheknights,“makeready,andwewillassailtheewithallourmight.”
ThenSirHantzlakeranKingPellinore’shorsethroughwithhissword,sothattheymightbeallalikeonfoot.ButKingPellinoreatthatwaspassingwroth,andranuponSirHantzlake,withacry,“Keepwellthyhead!”andgavehimsuchastrokeuponthehelmasclovehimtothechin,sothathefelldeadtotheground.Whenhesawthat,theotherknightrefusedtofight,andkneelingdownsaid,“Takemycousintheladywiththee,asthyquestis;butasthouartatrueknight,sufferhertocometoneithershamenorharm.
