"Why should we tell you that?" said the knights.
"You need not, for I know already. And I can tell you this. You will gain no advantage over King Ryons without my counsel."
"Ah! you are Merlin," said Balin. "Then we shall be glad of your counsel."
"Come then with me. But look that you brace yourself to knightly deeds, for you will have great need to do so."
"As for that," said Balin, "we will do what we can. No knight can do more."
Then Merlin lodged them in a leafy wood beside the highway, where they rested till it was near midnight. He then awakened them and bade them rise and make ready, for the king they sought was near at hand. He had stolen away from his host with threescore of his best knights to visit a lady.
"How shall we know the king?" asked Balin.
"Hereby is a narrow way where you shall meet him," said Merlin.
They followed him to the place, where they lay in ambush till the rattle of harness showed that the party approached. Then, at Merlin's suggestion, the two knights rode from their covert and assailed the king at the head of his followers, wounding him sorely and hurling him to the ground. They then, in the darkness, attacked the array of knights with the fury of lions, slaying more than forty of them, and putting the remnant to flight.
This done, they returned to King Ryons where he lay helpless, and with a threat of death forced him to yield himself to their grace.
"Valiant knights, slay me not," he asked. "You may profit by my life, but can win nothing by my death."
"There you speak truly," said they, and lifting him carefully they placed him on a horse-litter for conveyance to Camelot.
Then Merlin vanished and came to King Arthur, whom he told that his greatest enemy was vanquished and taken.
"By two of the most valorous knights in your realm. To-morrow you shall learn who they are."
In good time Balin and his brother came with the wounded king and delivered him to the porters at the gates, charging them to bear him to King Arthur. Then they turned again and departed in the dawning of the day.
When King Ryons was brought to the court, Arthur received him graciously.
"Sir king," he said, "you are heartily welcome. By what adventure came you hither?"
"By a hard one," said the captive, "as you well may see."