Arthur considered for some time, and then said:
"I would rather fight than die in prison. If I fight, will you deliver also all these prisoners?"
The damsel promised, and Arthur consented to fight. While she went to tell Sir Damas, Arthur said to the other prisoners:
"My friends, I do not know Sir Damas, and I do not know Sir Ontzlake. I do not know whether they are bad or good. But I will fight, and then, when I have conquered, I shall judge between them, and do justice to both."
"That is a good plan," said the knights, "but why are you so sure that you will conquer?"
At that the knights set up a great cry of joy, and the king continued:
"I shall send for my good sword Excalibur and the scabbard, and with these I shall surely win."
So when Arthur and the knights were led out of prison, the king sent the damsel who had visited them to Morgan le Fay for his sword and scabbard.
Meantime, the knight who had accompanied Arthur on the little ship, Sir Accalon, also awoke. He found himself in the palace of Morgan le Fay, and he wondered very much where Arthur was. He went to the lady, who said to him:
"My dear lord, the day has come when you can have great power if you want it. Should you like to be king of this land, instead of Arthur?"
Now Sir Accalon was a traitor at heart. He wanted very much to be king, even if the good Arthur was to be killed; so he said:
"You shall be king, and I shall be your queen. All you need to do is to fight a great battle, which you shall win. I have been using my magic. It was I who sent the ship of silk to you and Arthur. I had him put into prison, and I had you brought here."
Sir Accalon wondered very much. Then she told him of the fight King Arthur was to make against Sir Ontzlake.
"But I have caused Sir Ontzlake to fall sick," she said, "and he cannot fight. I shall go with you to his castle and you can offer to fight for him."
"I to fight with the king!" cried Sir Accalon. "He would surely overthrow me."
"He cannot," said Morgan le Fay, "because you are to fight with his sword. A little while ago he sent to me for Excalibur and the scabbard, but I returned him a false sword which looks like Excalibur, and a false scabbard. You shall take the true ones, and then you shall surely overcome him and rule this land."