` Yesterday , ' answered the earl , ` my two sons were seized , while thy were hunting , by a monster who dwells on those mountains yonder , and he vows that he will not let them go unless I give him my daughter to wife . ' ` That shall never be , ' said Owen ; ` but what form hath this monster ? ' ` In shape he is a man , but in stature he is a giant , ' replied the earl , ` and it were better by far that he should slay my sons than that I should give up my daughter . ' Early next morning the dwellers in the castle were awakened by a great clamour , and they found that the giant had arrived with the two young men . Swiftly Owen put on his armour and went forth to meet the giant , and the lion followed at his heels . 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 XXXXX thee alone , and it is harder for us to contend with yonder beast than with thee . '
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