instantly lost their strength and prowess, and became weak as babes.

While they were in this case, a tread was heard that shook the ground, and there stood before the Castle gates a huge giant, with matted hair and fiery eyes, and a club that he dashed about right furiously.

King Arthur," he cried, "I give thee three choices. Either must thou yield unto me, or fight with me, or lose thy lands, unless thou wilt take a solemn oath to return hither on New-Year's Day, and tell me for thy ransom, what of all others is the thing that women chiefly desire."

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Good King Arthur had no power left in his arm, therefore, he might not fight, and could do no other than pledge himself to deliver his realms, or to bring the answer that the giant required. He then turned his horse's head, and rode away, marvelling as he went, what was the thing that women most desire.

"I can tell," said a small voice; and King Arthur beheld Sir Thomas resting himself and Sleekfoot on the pommel of the saddle.

"Ha! what say you, my little Knight?" asked the King.

"It is," said Sir Thomas, "that their sons should be no bigger than I."

Whereat the good King laughed so heartily, that he had well-nigh forgotten his perplexity, and the little Knight glowed for shame, so that he hid himself under the mane of the horse,

and wished that his new honours had not uplifted him into speaking foolishly.

The King sought throughout Britain for the answer, putting the question to each person whom he met.

Some told him riches, pomp, or state, some said gay raiment, others flattery, others kindness, but among so many replies the King knew not the right one, and could only write them down in letters, which he sealed with his own ring. There was great fear lest the kingdom might be delivered to the cruel giant, since the King must needs abide by his word given; and great was the woe and wailing, at the fear of having the brave Arthur driven out by the foul monster.

On the last night ere New-Year's Day, Arthur and his little Knight were riding across a moor. The King sighed deeply: "It is the last time I call my hills my own," said he; "I shall never look more on yonder rocks! Say, my little Knight, will you still follow a landless, banished King?"

"To death, I will follow you, my liege," began Sir Thomas; but suddenly the King's horse swerved aside, and Sleekfoot darted away, and his rider had much ado to draw tight his rein, and hinder him from rushing into a mouse-hole. When this was done, Sir Thomas, but for his knighthood, would have shared the mouse's fears, for between an oak and a holly tree, there sat, clad in a scarlet mantle, the most ill-favoured dame that he had ever beheld. Her nose was crooked, her chin awry, and her eyes where her mouth should have been, and

though she arose and made her courtesy to the King, he was too much amazed to make answer.

"Who art thou who wilt not speak to me?" said the Lady. "Sir, foul as I am, I may help thee in thy need."

"If thou canst aid me," answered Arthur, " thou hast only to say what thou wilt for thy guerdon, and it shall be thine." "Swear that thou wilt keep thy word, Sir King, and I will tell thee the secret that shall be the ransom of thy realm."

So King Arthur did as she would, and when she had told

him the secret in his ear, she desired her reward, namely, that he should bring some fair young knight of his court, on whom to bestow her in marriage; and the King gave his promise, that thus he would do when he should have proved the secret on the Giant.

So he came on New-Year's Day to Terne Wadling, and forth came the griesly Giant to meet him. He gave first the letters with the many replies, but the Giant tossed them scornfully aside, and said, “ Yield, yield thy lands, Arthur, this may not be thy ransom !”

"Hold thy hand," cried Arthur; "let me speak again. That which women most desire is this: To have their will."

"It was my sister that told thee!” cried the Giant, dashing his club on the ground, so as to split to pieces a young oak that stood in his way.

Nevertheless, the good King rode home in much heaviness, and sadly told his knights how he had been forced to vow to bring a fair young knight to wed the loathly damsel on the

moor.

"Cheer up, my gallant liege," quoth Sir Gawayne the Gentle, "I will be the bridegroom."

Nay," said Arthur, "my good Gawayne, I cannot give thee, my sister's own son, to so grim and foul a dame !"

"Let her be foul as she may," said gentle Sir Gawayne, "since thou hast given thy oath, good uncle, I will set thee free.”

So, on the next day, King Arthur with all the knights of the

Round Table, set forth to conduct Sir Gawayne to fetch home his bride. Sir Kaye, the steward, rode first of all; but when he beheld the loathly lady sitting between the oak and holly bush, he turned his horse, and said to the King, “Sir, of all this company, I know not who can be given to this fearsome damsel, save little Sir Thomas Thumb."

"I would offer myself willingly, were it for my liege's honour," said Sir Thomas, boldly.

"Well said, little brother-in-arms!" said Sir Gawayne. "But I fear me she would make but one mouthful of thee! However, we will both abide her choice, for if I be the biggest, thou art the fairest."

While the two knights were speaking, their company had grown less. Some loosed their hawks, and some their hounds, till, except these two, not one was left who had not his wedded dame at home; and thus the King and the rest came to the loathly lady, crouching on the moor. Sir Thomas trembled, but the damsel never even seemed to see him; and Sir Gawayne, who so dearly esteemed his uncle's honour, and his own, went valiantly up to the lady, took her brown hand, called her his bride, and lifted her, all crooked as she was, on the crupper of his steed. So he rode before her into Caerleon, wedded her with a ring, and took her to his own house; but all the time, the gentle knight shuddered at the very touch of her hand, and when he had brought her home, he hid his face in his hands, ere he could resolve to look up and bid her welcome.