Now Mark and his men gathered close together. The king and Sir Pendore and Sir Bertram were in close converse. Up to the walls came the rescuing party. King Arthur in front frowning, mighty, a majestic figure who seemed to breathe fire and fury. "What does this mean, Mark? What scurvy trick have you now tried?" "I found these men within holding my own castle when I returned from a short journey. What else could I do but try to oust them?" "I know better. If any harm, if but one of my knights is hurt, I shall make you pay right fully." Now the gates opened wide. There stood Sir Launcelot, and Sir Tristram, both supporting Sir Percival. Into the castle rode King Arthur and King Cadoris. "Have you been hurt? Who else is wounded? Are any dead?" These were the questions of the king. So Sir Launcelot told him. And now when the king found that none were dead and he realized how many men Mark had lost, good humor again came to him. His eyes twinkled merrily. "Shall we hang this scurvy king?" he asked. "If you will, sire," said Sir Tristram. "I fancy he has suffered much by now. And since he is uncle of mine I beg of you treat him more gently than he deserves. Let us rather laugh at him. True, there are some of us who have been wounded, but none fatally." "And after all," said Sir Percival, "see how _much_ we can laugh?" Sir Launcelot too nodded in agreement. "In truth," King Arthur agreed, "I have found no fancy to act as hangman to him. For knave and villain though he is, yet is he still a king. What say you Cadoris?" "It is no brew of mine, good Arthur. Yet were I he and you had such good cause to laugh at me, I wonder if I would not rather hang." So King Arthur turned to King Mark. Laughter was in his eye, mocking laughter. About him the others gathered and these, too, seemed laughing at him. "I offer you advice, Mark, which so it seems to me, you would do well to heed. Keep not your doors so wide open hereafter. Knaves like these are too apt to accept such hospitality. And, good Mark, when next you go a hunting, I fancy, you had best hunt at home. It is safer and for one thing you are sure to have it. 'Tis a sad state for you to find these men making themselves at home while you are away on so peaceful a mission. 'Tis a sad pity and should not be permitted." "Tis sad,'tis sad," said the men about King Arthur. King Mark scowled in fury. And somehow, it seemed, he scowled most at his own nephew, Tristram. [Illustration] CHAPTER EIGHTEEN The Kitchen Boy Again Now King Arthur, his knights and all of his men were home once again. Here they found great good humor at their account of the adventure at the castle of King Mark.