ired of the maiden who these were.

'That is the Earl Arfog and his company,' she said sadly. 'And he
goeth, as is his wont, to visit my mistress, and to insult her, and to
treat her unmannerly, and to threaten that he will drive her from the
one remaining roof-tree she possesses. And so will he and his knights
sit eating and drinking till night, and great will be my lady's sorrow
that she hath no one to protect her.'

They talked of other things for a while, and then said Sir Owen:

'Hath thy mistress a suit of armour, and a destrier in her possession?'

'She hath indeed, the best in the world,' said the maiden, 'for they
belonged to her late husband, the Lord of the Moors.'

'Wilt thou go and get them for me for a loan?' he asked.

'I will,' said the maiden, and wondered what he would do with them.

Before the day was passed there came a beautiful black steed, upon
which was a beechen saddle, and a suit of armour, both for man and
horse. And Owen armed himself, and when it was dark he went forth and
stationed himself under a great oak, where none could see him.

When the earl, elated with insolence and wine, came back that way,
shouting and rolling in his saddle, Owen marked him as he rode. He
dashed out at him, and so fiercely swift was he, and so heavy were his
blows, that he had beaten to the earth those who were beside the earl,
and the earl he had dragged from the saddle and laid him across his
crupper, before the earl's companions were aware of what was done.

As the countess sat in hall, sadly thinking how soon the craven earl
would thrust her out of her home, there came the beat of hoofs, the
great door of the manor swung open, and a tall knight in black armour
strode in, thrusting another knight before him.

'I am the stranger whom ye rescued from death, my lady,' said Sir Owen,
bowing, 'and this is thy rascally enemy, the Earl Arfog. Look you,
churl in armour,' said Owen, shaking the other till every piece of
steel upon him rattled, 'if you do not instantly crave pardon humbly of
this lady, and restore unto her everything you have robbed of her, I
swear to you, by the name of the great Arthur, I will shear your head
from your shoulders.'

In great terror the earl, who, since he oppressed women, was an abject
coward, sank upon his knees and promised to restore all he had ever
taken from the lady, as a ransom for his life; and for his freedom he
would give her many rich farms and manors, and hostage