He accordingly turned his horse and rode back in all haste. On reaching the church-yard he found no knights there, all those who had been placed on guard having gone to the jousting, exchanging duty for sport. Dismounting and tying his horse, he entered the tent which had been erected over the stone. There stood the magic sword, its jewelled hilt and half the shining blade revealed. Heedless of the inscription on the polished steel, and ignorant of its lofty promise,--for the miracle had been kept secret by the knights,--young Arthur seized the weapon strongly by the hilt and gave the magic sword a vigorous pull. Then a wondrous thing happened, which it was a pity there were none to see; for the blade came easily out of stone and steel, as though they were yielding clay, and lay naked in his hand. Not knowing the might and meaning of what he had done, and thinking of naught but to keep his word, the young man mounted his horse and rode to the field, where he delivered the sword to his brother Sir Kay. "I have brought your sword," he said. The young knight started with surprise on beholding the blade, and gazed on it with wonder and trepidation. It was not his, he knew, and he recognized it at sight for the magic blade. But ambition quickly banished the wonder from his heart, and he rode hastily to his father, Sir Hector, exclaiming,-- "Behold! Here is the sword of the stone! I that bear it am the destined king of England's realm." Sir Hector looked at him in doubt, and beheld the blade he bore with deep surprise. "When and how did you obtain it?" he demanded. "Back to the church! Come with us, Arthur. Here is a mystery that must be explained." Reaching the church, he made Kay swear upon the book how he came by that weapon, for greatly he doubted. "I have not said I drew it," Kay replied, sullenly. "In truth, it was not achieved by me. Arthur brought me the sword." "Arthur!" cried the lord. "Arthur brought it! How got you it, boy?" "I pulled it from the stone," replied the youth. "Kay sent me home for his sword, but the house was empty and locked; and as I did not wish my brother to be without a weapon, I rode hither and pulled this blade out of the stone. Was there aught strange in that? It came out easily enough." "Were there no knights about it?" "None, sir." "Then the truth is plain. God's will has been revealed. You are the destined king of England." "I?" cried Arthur, in surprise. "Wherefore I?" "God has willed it so," repeated the baron. "But I must first learn for myself if you have truly drawn the sword. Can you put it back again?" "I can try," said Arthur, and with an easy thrust he sunk the blade deeply into the stone. Then Sir Hector and Kay pulled at the hilt with all their strength, but failed to move the weapon. "Now you shall try," they said to Arthur. Thereupon the youth seized the hilt, and with a light effort the magic sword came out naked in his hand.