Sir Galahad rode on for four days without adventure. At last he came to a white abbey, where he was received very kindly. And he found two knights there, and one was a King. 'What adventure has brought you here?' asked the boy-knight. Then they told him that in this abbey there was a shield. And if any man tried to carry it, he was either wounded or dead within three days. 'But to-morrow I shall try to bear it,' said the King. 'In the name of God, let me take the shield,' said Sir Galahad gravely. 'If I fail, you shall try to bear it,' said the King. And Galahad was glad, for he had still no shield of his own. Then a monk took the King and the young knight behind the altar, and showed them where the shield hung. It was as white as snow, but in the middle there was a red cross. 'The shield can be borne only by the worthiest knight in the world,' the monk warned the King. 'I will try to bear it, though I am no worthy knight,' insisted the King; and he took the shield and rode down into the valley. And Galahad waited at the abbey, for the King had said he would send his squire to tell the young knight how the shield had protected him. For two miles the King rode through the valley, till he reached a hermitage. And he saw a warrior there, dressed in white armour, and sitting on a white horse. The warrior rode quickly towards the King, and struck him so hard that he broke his armour. Then he thrust his spear through the King's right shoulder, as though he held no shield. 'The shield can be borne only by a peerless knight. It does not belong to you,' said the warrior, as he gave it to the squire, telling him to carry it back to the abbey and to give it to Sir Galahad with his greeting. 'Then tell me your name,' said the squire. 'I will tell neither you nor any one on earth,' said the warrior. And he disappeared, and the squire saw him no more. 'I will take the wounded King to an abbey, that his wounds may be dressed,' thought the squire. And with great difficulty the King and his squire reached an abbey. And the monks thought his life could not be saved, but after many days he was cured. Then the squire rode back to the abbey where Galahad waited. 'The warrior who wounded the King bids you bear this shield,' he said. Galahad hung the shield round his neck joyfully, and rode into the valley to seek the warrior dressed in white. And when they met they saluted each other courteously. And the warrior told Sir Galahad strange tales of the white shield, till the knight thanked God that now it was his. And all his life long the white shield with the red cross was one of his great treasures. Now Galahad rode back to the abbey, and the monks were glad to see him again. 'We have need of a pure knight,' they said, as they took Sir Galahad to a tomb in the churchyard. A pitiful noise was heard, and a voice from the tomb cried, 'Galahad, servant of God, do not come near me.' But the young knight went towards the tomb and raised the stone.