"You are a good knight, Sir Mador," said Bors, "but I trust that God will give this battle to justice, not to prowess." He continued to talk and to make delay till Mador called out impatiently,-- "It seems to me that we waste time and weather. Either come and do battle at once, or else say nay." "I am not much given to say nay," answered Bors. "Take your horse and make ready. I shall not tarry long, I promise you." Then each departed to his tent, and in a little while Mador came into the field with his shield on his shoulder and his spear in his hand. But he waited in vain for Bors. "Where is your champion?" cried Mador to the king. "Bid him come forth if he dare!" When this was told to Bors he was ashamed to delay longer, and mounted his horse and rode to his appointed place. But as he did so he saw a knight, mounted on a white horse, and bearing a shield of strange device, emerge from a neighboring wood, and come up at all speed. He continued his course till he came to Sir Bors. "Be not displeased, fair knight," he said, "if I claim this battle. I have ridden far this day to have it, as I promised you when we spoke last. And for what you have done I thank you." Then Bors rode to the king and told him that a knight had come who would do battle for the queen and relieve him from the championship. "What knight is this?" asked the king. "All I may say is that he covenanted to be here to-day. He has kept his word, and I am discharged." "How is this?" demanded Arthur. "Sir knight, do you truly desire to do battle for the queen?" "For that, and that alone, came I hither," answered the knight. "And I beg that there be no delay, for when this battle is ended I must depart in haste on other duties. I hold it a dishonor to all those knights of the Round Table that they can stand and see so noble a lady and courteous a queen as Queen Guenever rebuked and shamed among them all. Therefore I stand as her champion." Then all marvelled what knight this could be, for none suspected him. But Mador cried impatiently to the king,-- "We lose time here. If this knight, whoever he be, will have ado with me, it is time to end words and begin deeds." "You are hot, Sir Mador. Take care that your valor be not cooled," said the other. They now moved to their appointed stations, and there couched their spears and rode together with all the speed of their chargers. Mador's spear broke, but the spear of his opponent held, and bore him and his horse backward to the earth. But he sprang lightly from the saddle, and drew his sword, challenging the victor to do battle with him on foot. This the other knight did, springing quickly to the ground, and drawing his sword. Then they came eagerly to the combat, and for the space of near an hour fought with the fury of wild beasts, for Mador was a strong knight, proved in many battles.