"As for that," said Balin, "I have little fear, but I regret beyond words that I have displeased my lord, King Arthur." "Be that as it may," answered Merlin, "you have given the saddest blow ever struck; and yet worse is to come, for with that same sword will you slay your brother." "If I believed that," the sad knight replied, "I should kill myself now to prove you a liar." At that moment the crippled old man vanished suddenly, and the brothers saw Merlin in his own person riding toward them. "Where are you going?" inquired Merlin. "At present we have little to do and ride as we please." "I can tell you where you are going," said the magician. "You go to meet King Rience, but your journey will be a failure unless you are guided by my counsel." "Ah, Merlin," said Balin, "we will be ruled by you." "Come on then; but see that you fight manfully, for you will need all your strength and valor." "Fear not," they both exclaimed. "We will do all that men can do." "Then," said the magician, "conceal yourselves here in the woods behind the leaves. Hide your horses and rest in patience, for soon will Rience with sixty of his best knights come this way. You can fall upon them from ambush and easily destroy them." It happened just as Merlin had predicted, and the brothers soon saw the sixty knights riding down the lane. "Which is Rience?" asked Balin. "There," said he, "the knight that rides in the midst--that is Rience." The brothers waited till Rience was opposite them, and then they rushed upon him and bore him down, wounding him severely. Wheeling from the charge they fell upon the followers of Rience and smote them to right and left, so that many fell dead or wounded and the remainder broke into flight. Returning to King Rience the brothers would have killed him, but he cried, "Slay me not. By my death you will win nothing, but by my life you may win." "That is so," the two agreed: and they made a litter, and Balan bore Rience to King Arthur, but Balin would not go to the court till he had done more for Arthur. The tale of Balin's deeds is too long for recital here, but it may be read in the book of King Arthur's knights. At last, after many days of wandering and many exciting combats, Balin saw by the roadside a cross upon which in letters of gold was written, "No man must ride to this castle alone." Then, too, an old man came toward him and said, "Balin le Savage, turn now before it is too late. You have already passed the bounds of prudence." With these words the old man vanished, and Balin heard the blast of a horn, like that blown when a huntsman kills an animal. "That blast," said Balin to himself, "is for me, for I am the prize, yet am I not dead." As the echoes of the horn died away, Balin saw coming toward him a hundred knights and ladies: who rode up to him and smilingly greeted him. "Come with us to the castle," said they, "and there shall be music and dancing and feasting and much joy."