Sword of Camelot Read Online Free PDF Page A

Come now—let me show you around part of Camelot at least.”
    â€œWhat are those fellows doing?” Reb asked when they had made their way to a large open area, some what like a football field.
    He was looking toward several men on horseback who were in full armor and seemed to be practicing the same game that they had seen through the window of their cell.
    â€œWhy, they're practicing their tilting,” Sir Gwin said. “Don't you know what that means?”
    â€œDoes it mean when they try to knock each other off their horses with them sticks?” Reb demanded.
    â€œWell, that's not a very graceful way of putting it—but it's about what it amounts to. Don't they have such things where you come from?”
    Josh said quickly, “I think we've all seen a little of it. But it's only on TV”
    â€œTV?” Sir Gwin asked in a puzzled tone. “What is TV?”
    Josh suddenly realized that in this culture they had no idea of television. “Just something we used to do. But tell us about the tiltings. We know the knights run at each other on horses and try to knock each other off. Do they get hurt?”
    â€œHurt! They get killed sometimes,” Sir Gwin said in surprise. “Look. Sir Elbert and Sir Nolen—they are getting ready to have a try at it right now.”
    He motioned to where two men in armor were sitting on their horses facing each other and separated by a fence no more than three feet high.
    â€œThe fence is to keep the horses from running into each other,” Sir Gwin explained. “See, they have to tilt their lances over the fence and try to knock their opponent off.”
    â€œWell, I hope whoever's fighting Sir Elbert knocks him all the way over the other side of the mountain!” Dave said bitterly.
    â€œSir Elbert is not pleasant.” Sir Gwin shrugged. “But he's been unhappy in love. He was jilted by his sweet heart a couple of years ago, and he's still angry about it.”
    â€œHe doesn't have to take it out on us!” Jake complained. “Look—they're starting!”
    The Sleepers watched the scene with fascination. The two horses lunged forward, carrying the men toward each other. Each man held his lance pointed to his left, in front of a shield that he carried on his left arm to try to catch the opponent's lance. The knights came together with a clash, and Sir Elbert's opponent went sailing off the back of his horse. He fell to the ground with a clatter and rolled over several times.
    â€œIs he dead?” Abbey gasped.
    â€œDead? Not a bit of it,” Sir Gwin said cheerfully. “He just got knocked off his horse. See, he's getting up.”
    Reb had been watching the process with interest. “That's a mighty fine game,” he said. “I wouldn't mind trying that myself someday.”
    Sir Gwin looked at him with approval. “If we don't cut your head off, I'll see to it that you get a chance to learn a little about the manly art of tilting. I think you might be good at it.”
    Then he took them through other parts of the castle, and they saw firsthand some further activities of the knights: practicing with the broadsword, fencing with lighter swords, and a great deal of horsemanship.
    Finally, after an hour, Sir Gwin led them back to their cells. Abbey and Sarah were taken to their own room, and, as the five young men entered theirs, the door slammed behind them. For some time they said little, all of them deep in thought about what they had seen.
    Supper came, which proved to be surprisingly good. Josh suspected that Sir Gwin had given orders to improve the menu. They sat around lingering over the meal, all of them looking depressed.
    Finally Josh heard the sound of approaching foot-steps. Then the bolt rattled in the heavy door, and it swung slowly open.
    The man who entered looked like no one Josh had ever seen before. He was no more than medium height. He kept himself so straight, however, that