Then the King took Sir Kay and Sir Bedivere apart privately into his tent, and bade them secretly get ready their horses and armor, and his own, for it was his intention that night, after evensong, to set out on a pilgrimage to St. Michael’s Mount with them, and nobody besides them was to accompany him.  So when evening came, the King, and Sir Kay, and Sir Bedivere armed themselves, and taking their horses, rode as fast as they could to the foot of St. Michael’s Mount.  There the King alighted and bade his knights stay where they were, while he himself ascended the mount.

He went up the hillside till he came to a huge fire.  Close to it was a newly made grave, by which was sitting a sorrowful widow wringing her hands and making great lamentation.  King Arthur saluted her courteously, and asked for whom she was weeping.  She prayed him to speak softly, for “Yonder,” said she, “is a monstrous giant that will come and destroy you should your voice reach his ears.  Luckless wretch, what brings you to this mountain?” asked the widow.  “Fifty such knights as you could not hold their ground against the monster.”

“Lady,” he replied, “the mighty conqueror King Arthur has sent me as his ambassador to this giant, to inquire why he ventures thus to misuse and maltreat the people of the land.”

“A useless embassy in very truth!” she said.  “Little does he care for King Arthur, or for any other man.  Not many days have passed since he murdered the fairest lady in the world, the wife of Sir Howel of Little Britain; and had you brought with you King Arthur’s own wife, Queen Guinevere, he would not be afraid to murder her.  Yet, if you must needs speak with him, you will find him yonder over the crest of the hill.”

“This is a fearful warning you give me,” said the King.  “Yet none the less, believe me, will I accomplish the task that has been allotted me.”

Having climbed up to the crest of the hill, King Arthur looked down, and close below him he saw the giant basking at his ease by the side of a great fire.

“Thou villain!” cried the King—­“thou villain! short shall be thy life and shameful shall be thy death.  Rise and defend yourself.  My sword shall avenge that fair duchess whom you murdered.”

Starting from the ground, the giant snatched up his great iron club, and aiming a swinging blow at King Arthur’s head, swept the crest off his helmet.  Then the King flew at him, and they wrestled and wrestled till they fell, and as they struggled on the ground King Arthur again and again smote the giant with his dagger, and they rolled and tumbled down the hill till they reached the sea-beach at its foot, where Sir Kay and Sir Bedivere were waiting their lord’s return.  Rushing to his aid, the two knights at once set their master free, for they found that the giant, in whose arms he was locked, was already dead.

Then King Arthur sent Sir Kay and Sir Bedivere up the hill to fetch the sword and shield that he had let fall and left there, and also the giant’s iron club and cloak, and he told them they might keep whatever treasure they found in his den, for he desired nothing besides the club and the cloak.  So they went and did as they were bidden, and brought away as much treasure as they desired.