eep. When I heard him
snoring, as I was I went up and caused the woman to bind my wound with a
handkerchief; and, taking the giant's spit, reddened it in the fire, and
ran it through the eye, but was not able to kill him.

'However, I left the spit sticking in his head, and took to my heels;
but I soon found he was in pursuit of me, although blind; and having an
enchanted ring he threw it at me, and it fell on my big toe and remained
fastened to it.

'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