` The giant then called to the ring , where it was , and to my great surprise it made him answer on my foot ; and he , guided by the same , made a leap at me which I had the good luck to observe , and fortunately escaped the danger . However , I found running was of no use in saving me , as long as I had the ring on my foot ; so I took my sword and cut off the toe it was fastened on , and threw both into a large fish-pond that was convenient . The giant called again to the ring , which by the power of enchantment always made him answer ; but he , not knowing what I had done , imagined it was still on some part of me , and made a violent leap to seize me , when he went into the pond , over head and ears , and was drowned . Now , sir knight , ' says the Thief of Sloan , ` you see what dangers I came through and always escaped ; but , indeed , I am lame for the want of my toe ever since . ' ` My lord and master , ' says an old woman that was listening all the time , ` that story is but too true , as I well know , for I am the very woman that was in the giant 's castle , and you , my lord , the child that I was to make into a pie ; and this is the very man that saved your life , which you may know by the want of your finger that was taken off , as you have heard , to deceive the giant . ' The Knight of the Glen , greatly surprised at what he had heard the old woman tell , and knowing he wanted his finger from his childhood , began to understand that the story was true enough . ` And is this my deliverer ? ' says he . ' O brave fellow , I not only pardon you all , but will keep you with myself while you live , where you shall feast like princes , and have every attendance that I have myself . ' They all returned thanks on their knees , and the Black Thief told him the reason they attempted to steal the Steed of Bells , and the necessity they were under in going home . ` Well , ' says the Knight of the Glen , ` if that 's the case I bestow you my steed rather than this brave fellow should die ; so you may go when you please , only remember to call and see me betimes , that we may know each other well . ' They promised they would , and with great joy they set off for the King their father 's palace , and the Black Thief along with them . The wicked Queen was standing all this time on the tower , and , hearing the bells ringing at a great distance off , knew very well it was the princes coming home , and the steed with them , and through spite and vexation precipitated herself from the tower and was shattered to pieces . The three princes lived happy and well during their father 's reign , and always keeping the Black Thief along with them ; but how they did after the old King 's death is not known . -LRB- 4 -RRB- -LRB- 4 -RRB- The Hibernian Tales . THE MASTER THIEF THERE was once upon a time a husbandman who had three sons . He had no property to bequeath to them , and no means of putting them in the way of getting a living , and did not know what to do , so he said that they had his leave to take to anything they most fancied , and go to any place they best liked . He would gladly accompany them for some part of their way , he said , and that he did . He went with them till they came to a place where three roads met , and there each of them took his own way , and the father bade them farewell and returned to his own home again . What became of the two elder I have never been able to discover , but the youngest went both far and wide .
It came to pass , one night , as he was going through a great wood , XXXXX a terrible storm came on .
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