"Truly," said Owain, "he is a good knight; and if he knew that the maiden was in such peril I marvel that he came not to her rescue. But, if you will accept me in his stead, I will do battle with you."
"We will," said the youths.
And they attacked Owain, and he was hard beset by them. And with that the lion came to Owain's assistance, and they two got the better of the young men. And they said to him, "Chieftain, it was not agreed that we should fight, save with thyself alone; and it is harder for us to contend with yonder animal than with thee."
And Owain put the lion in the place where the maiden had been imprisoned, and blocked up the door with stones; and he went to fight with the young men as before. But Owain had not his usual strength, and the two youths pressed hard upon him. And the lion roared incessantly at seeing Owain in trouble. And he burst through the wall until he found a way out, and rushed upon the young men, and instantly slew them. So Luned was saved from being burned.
Then Owain returned with Luned to the dominions of the Countess of the Fountain. And when he went thence he took the countess with him to Arthur's court, and she was his wife as long as she lived.
And then he took the road that led to the court of the savage black man, and Owain fought with him; and the lion did not quit Owain until he had vanquished him. And when he reached the court of the savage black man he entered the hall, and beheld four and twenty ladies, the fairest that could be seen. And the garments which they had on were not worth four and twenty pence, and they were as sorrowful as death. And Owain asked them the cause of their sadness. And they said, "We are the daughters of earls, and we all came here with our husbands, whom we dearly loved. And we were received with honor and rejoicing. And we were thrown into a state of stupor; and, while we were thus, the demon who owns this castle slew all our husbands, and took from us our horses and our raiment and our gold and our silver. And the corpses of our husbands are still in this house, and many others with them. And this, chieftain, is the cause of our grief; and we are sorry that thou art come hither, lest harm should befall thee."
And Owain was grieved when he heard this. And he went forth from the castle, and he beheld a knight approaching him, who saluted him in a friendly and cheerful manner as if he had been a brother. And this was the savage black man.
"In very sooth," said Owain, "it is not to seek thy friendship that I am here."
"In sooth," said he, "thou shalt not find it then."