ten to my counsel. Thou
knowest well that alone thou canst not preserve thy lands, therefore
seek some one to help thee.'

'And how can I do that?' asked the countess.

'I will tell thee,' answered Luned. 'Unless thou canst defend the
fountain all will be lost, and none can defend the fountain except a
knight of Arthur's court. There will I go to seek him, and woe betide me
if I return without a warrior that can guard the fountain, as well as he
who kept it before.'

'Go then,' said the countess, 'and make proof of that which thou hast
promised.'

So Luned set out, riding on a white palfrey, on pretence of journeying
to King Arthur's court, but instead of doing that she hid herself for as
many days as it would have taken her to go and come, and then she left
her hiding-place, and went in to the countess.

'What news from the court?' asked her mistress, when she had given Luned
a warm greeting.

'The best of news,' answered the maiden, 'for I have gained the object
of my mission. When wilt thou that I present to thee the knight who has
returned with me?'

'To-morrow at midday,' said the countess, 'and I will cause all the
people in the town to come together.'

Therefore the next day at noon Owen put on his coat of mail, and over it
he wore a splendid mantle, while on his feet were leather shoes fastened
with clasps of gold. And he followed Luned to the chamber of her
mistress.

Right glad was the countess to see them, but she looked closely at Owen
and said:

'Luned, this knight has scarcely the air of a traveller.'

'What harm is there in that, lady?' answered Luned.

'I am persuaded,' said the countess, 'that this man and no other chased
the soul from the body of my lord.'

'Had he not been stronger than thy lord,' replied the damsel, 'he could
not have taken his life, and for that, and for all things that are past,
there is no remedy.'

'Leave me, both of you,' said the countess, 'and I will take counsel.'

Then they went out.

* * * * *

The next morning the countess summoned her subjects to meet in the
courtyard of the castle, and told them that now that her husband was
dead there was none to defend her lands.

'So choose you which it shall be,' she said. 'Either let one of you take
me for a wife, or give me your consent to take a new lord for myself,
that my lands be not without a master.'

At her words the chief men of the city withdrew into one corner and t