The Weasel's Nest  
"Greeting, good knights," he announced. "I am Sir Tristram."
 
Nothing could have thrown Sir Launcelot's party into greater astonishment. And yet no news could have been pleasanter.
 
"Right glad are we to see you, Sir Tristram, since we have sought you for a great number of days. I am Sir Launcelot. Here is Sir Percival." And so this knight announced them all.
 
The two knights, Sir Tristram on the one hand, Sir Launcelot, on the other, observed each other. Each of them found much to like in the other. Then and there was the beginning of a friendship that was to last until the day of Sir Tristram's death.
 
After the first few moments, had passed, Sir Tristram came to the reason for his coming among them.
 
That the danger was grave, they knew at once. King Mark was cruel and crafty. He would not venture this attempt unless he were certain that he had great numbers behind him.
 
"My thought seems to be to retire to the nearest castle and there defend ourselves as best we can," said Sir Percival.
 
"A right kindly thing, this of yours, Sir Tristram, to bring us this news. And if we come out of this, I hope that I shall be able to find you at any place you bespeak," Sir Launcelot remarked.
 
"The kindness is on the part of this man here." And Sir Tristram told them of Walker. "Need I say that I stay with you and share in your fortune such as it is. It should offer great sport and I would not miss it, if I could."
 
Sir Launcelot nodded his head nor did he make any further demur.
 
"And you two?" he now asked of Gouvernail and Walker.
 
"Oh, I," replied Sir Gouvernail, "I find my place where my master is."
 
"And I?" added Walker. "I owe something to Sir Percival and so I too will stay."
 
"Well then, perhaps we may keep them off, though not so easily," said Sir Neil.
 
"We can but try," added Sir Launcelot.
 
But now Sir Dagonet, jester and fool, made his way forward.
 
"Spoke you of finding castle?" he asked of Sir Percival.
 
Sir Percival nodded his head.
 
"Good man," Sir Dagonet spoke now to Walker. "Did this weasel king say aught as to the number of men he would send against us?"
 
"Only, master, that when he mentioned that he would send one hundred or more and with them twenty knights, one there, thought that number not enough and advised that the king add to it. Which the king said he would do."
 
"The more the better," said Sir Dagonet.
 
"A strange wish," said Sir Neil. "But then you are fool and that wish belongs to a fool."
 
"Yet not such a great fool after all," spoke up Sir Launcelot. "Truly Dagonet, I often wonder at you. For here is what is in Dagonet's mind. Since the weasel comes after us and leaves his home empty, why not go to the home of the weasel?"
 
Such a laugh now went up. For all of these knights saw that this would be a deed that would ring throughout Britain and if successful, make Mark the laughing stock of the land.
 
But after the laughter, Sir Tristram spoke, "I ask a strange thing, good knights, and hope it will receive favor in your eyes. King Mark has been a strange uncle to me. He has treated me scurvily oft enough. Yet when, if we come through this event as we hope, I would that you hold no further ill will against him. Understand me well. I ask for naught, if any among us are hurt at his hand, for then he deserves all that comes to him. But if we come through so that all can laugh at him, then I ask you to forget the ill will for which he gives you such good cause. For after all, he is blood kin of mine, a sorry thing, yet which I cannot forget." And now the knight waited answer.
 
Now all the knights turned to Sir Tristram and there was something about him that made them nod their heads in assent.
 
"Then do we promise this thing, y............