Next morning early they rode away through the gay woods, drenched with dew, which sparkled where the sunlight lit upon it. Long and lonely was the way, until towards the evening they met with a poor old man on foot, ragged, lame, and dirty, and bearing a great burden. It was in a narrow ride of the forest, and there was but room for one person to pass, and though the brothers were making great speed, since they doubted they had lost their way, they would not ride down the poor man, as many knights would do. But Balin, with a cheery call, said: 'Old man, give me thy pack, and do thou climb up and sit behind me. For it is late and lonely that such poor old bones as thine should be abroad.' The old man, either from fear of the two great knights in their black armour, or from suspicion, mumbled out a few words and refused the offer, while yet he would not budge from the narrow path. 'Well, then, tell us thy name, old man,' said Balin, laughing at his obstinacy. 'At this time I will not tell you,' croaked the old fellow, stumbling under his pack. 'I doubt that great pack hath many rich things that never owned thee master,' said Balan with a laugh. 'It is full evil seen,' said Balin, 'that thou art a true honest man, when thou wilt not tell thy name.' 'Be that as it may,' snarled the old man, 'but I know your name, my lordlings, and why you ride this way.' 'By the faith of my body, but ye are some wizard if ye know that,' said Balan mockingly. 'And who may we be?' asked Balin. 'And whither do we ride?' 'Ye are brothers, my Lords Balin and Balan,' answered the old man. 'And ye ride to pull King Rience's beard. But that ye shall not do, unless ye take my counsel.' 'Ah!' cried Balin, 'I know thee, Merlin! We would fain be ruled by thy counsel, old magician.' So it came about, with Merlin's aid, that Balin and Balan came upon King Rience that night with but a small band of his knights, and with a sudden attack out of the dark wood the two brothers seized the king and slew many of his men that tried to save him. And when they had ridden some way towards Camelot with the king, wounded and bound, between them, Merlin vanished from beside them. Then they rode to Camelot at the dawning, and delivered Rience to the porter at the gate, to be led to King Arthur when he should sit in hall, and the two knights rode away. So, by the capture of King Rience, his host was put to naught, and the king paid his homage to King Arthur, and swore on the sacred relics of the Abbey of Camelot to be his true man while he should live. At that time Balin could not meet with the felon knight, Sir Garlon, who wrought evil by wizardry, and he and his brother went their different ways seeking adventure. Sir Balin returned to King Arthur and became one of his most valiant knights.