And when the great beast beheld the hard blows which the giant dealt his master he flew at his throat , and much trouble had the monster in beating him off . ` Truly , ' said the giant , ' I should find no difficulty in fighting thee , if it were not for that lion . ' When he heard that Owen felt shame that he could not overcome the giant with his own sword , so he took the lion and shut him up in one of the towers of the castle , and returned to the fight . But from the sound of the blows the lion knew that the combat was going ill for Owen , so he climbed up till he reached the top of the tower , where there was a door on to the roof , and from the tower he sprang on to the walls , and from the walls to the ground . Then with a loud roar he leaped upon the giant , who fell dead under the blow of his paw . Now the gloom of the castle was turned into rejoicing , and the earl begged Owen to stay with him till he could make him a feast , but the knight said he had other work to do , and rode back to the place where he had left Luned , and the lion followed at his heels . When he came there he saw a great fire kindled , and two youths leading out the maiden to cast her upon the pile . ` Stop ! ' he cried , dashing up to them . ` What charge have you against her ? ' ` She boasted that no man in the world was equal to Owen , ' said they , ` and we shut her in a cave , and agreed that none should deliver her but Owen himself , and that if he did not come by a certain day she should die . And now the time has past and there is no sign of him . ' ` In truth he is a good knight , and had he but known that the maid was in peril he would have come to save her , ' said Owen ; ` but accept me in his stead , I entreat you . ' ` We will , ' replied they , and the fight began . The youths fought well and pressed hard on Owen , and when the lion saw that he came to help his master . But the youths made a sign for the fight to stop , and said : ` Chieftain , it was agreed we should give battle to thee alone , and it is harder for us to contend with yonder beast than with thee . ' Then Owen shut up the lion in the cave where the maiden had been in prison , and blocked up the front with stones . But the fight with the giant had sorely tried him , and the youths fought well , and pressed him harder than before . And when the lion saw that he gave a loud roar , and burst through the stones , and sprang upon the youths and slew them . And so Luned was delivered at the last .
Then the maiden rode back with XXXXX to the lands of the lady of the fountain .
Chieftain Luned Owen battle burst day fire slew stones throat