Story Hour Readings: Seventh Year | Page 6

never did anyone a favor in his life. The fourth
is Rumbleroll, who goes on his head to save his feet. He neither holds it
up to the sky like a man, nor stretches it 15 out toward the ground like a
brute; but he goes tumbling about the floor, like nothing but a rolling
stone."
"Unbar the door and let me in," commanded Kilhugh.
"Nay, that I will not," answered the Dusky Hero with the Mighty Grasp.
20
"And why not?" cried the prince.
"The knife is in the meat and the drink is in the horn, and there is
revelry in Arthur's Hall; and no man may enter in save the son of a king
from a friendly land. But never shall it be said that a wayfarer was
turned harshly 25 away from Arthur's door. Food enough for thee and
thy fifty men shall be prepared; collops shall be cooked and peppered
for all. In the stables there is fodder for thy horses and food in plenty
for thy dogs. And thou shalt fare as well in the guest chamber as in the
hall; only be 30 content, and disturb not the king and his knights at the
table."
"Nay, I will have nothing of all this," said young Kilhugh. "If thou wilt
open the door, well and good. But if not, I will bring dishonor upon
Arthur and shame upon thee. Here, on the spot where I stand, I will
shout thrice and make the welkin ring. Sounds more deadly than 5
those three shouts have never been heard in this land. They shall
resound from Land's End to Cold Blast Ridge in Ireland, and turn the
hearts of youths and maidens cold as stone. Matrons shall grow wan
and weakly and many a mother's child shall die of fright--so dreadful
10 will be my voice."
The Dusky Hero with the Mighty Grasp stood firm, although his heart
misgave him. "No clamor that thou canst make," said he, "will ever

admit thee here against King Arthur's wishes. However, I will go and
tell him 15 thou art here."
Well might he be perturbed by Kilhugh's threat. For he remembered
what had once happened in the days of King Lud, when all Britain had
been shaken by a fearful shriek. At the sound of it, men had grown pale
and feeble, 20 women listless and sad, and youths and maidens forlorn
and woebegone. Beasts deserted their young ones, birds left their
nestlings, trees cast off their fruit, the earth yielded no harvest.
* * * * *
Pondering upon these things, the Dusky Hero with the 25 Mighty Grasp
strode into the hall. King Arthur saw him and called out, "Hast thou
come with tidings from the door?"
The Dusky Hero bowed, and answered in stately phrase, becoming a
knight of the Table Round: 30
"Half of my life is past, noble king, and half of thine. I have been with
thee in Europe, in Asia, in Africa, and in the Island of Corsica. I was
thy companion when thou didst spread the terror of the sword from
Scandinavia to Spain. I fought by thy side in the Battle of Shades, when
we brought away twelve hostages from the Dim Land under 5 the Sea. I
have been in Jerusalem and in Castle Covert-and-Clearing, built all of
dead men's bones. I have been in Turning Castle, and in the Castle of
Riches; and there thou knowest we saw nine kings of nations, all
comely men of noble mien. Yet, I protest and declare that I never 10
before saw a youth so handsome and dignified as that one who is now
sitting astride his horse and waiting outside the door of this hall."
Then cried the king, "Thou didst walk hither to tell me of him; now hie
thee back to him, running at full speed. 15 Invite him to come in; and
let every man who sees the light, and every man who blinks the eye,
stand ready to do him honor."
* * * * *

The Dusky Hero with the Mighty Grasp returned to the great door. He
drew back bolt and bar, and set it 20 wide open before the prince and
his train. The men at arms dismounted at the horse block in the
courtyard, but Kilhugh still sat upon his steed and rode into the Hall.
"Hail to thee, King Arthur!" he cried. "I greet thee and thy guests and
thy companions and thy warriors. 25 My greeting is to the lowest as
well as to the highest of all that have a seat within this Hall. May thy
name, King Arthur, and thy fame and thy renown be forever held in
glorious memory throughout the length and the breadth of this land!"