knight gazing at her with mingled surprise and admiration
she ceased her song and implored his aid. A cruel giant, she said, had
seized her and brought her thither. At the moment he was asleep, but he
had tied her to a rock so that she might not escape.

Her beauty and grace, her childlike innocence, her piteous plight, moved
Sir Eppo strangely. First pity, then a stronger emotion dawned in his
breast. He severed her bonds with a stroke of his keen falchion.

"What can I do to aid thee, gentle maiden?" he said. "You have but to
command me; henceforth I am thy knight, to do battle for thee."

The damsel blushed at the courteous words, but she lifted her eyes
bravely to the champion who had so unexpectedly appeared to protect her.

"Return to my castle," she said, "and there thou wilt find a consecrated
net. Bring it hither. If I lay it upon the giant he will become as weak
as a babe and will be easily overcome."

Eagerly the young knight obeyed the command, and having found the net
according to the damsel's directions, he made all haste to return. At
the grotto he paused and hid himself, for the strident voice of the
giant could be heard within. Presently the monster emerged, and
departed in search of reeds wherewith to make a pipe. No sooner had he
disappeared than the maiden issued from the grotto, and Sir Eppo came
out of his concealment and gave her the consecrated net. She spoke a few
words of heartfelt gratitude, and then hurried with her treasure to the
top of the mountain, where she knew the giant had intended to go.

Arrived at her destination, she laid down the net and covered it with
moss, leaves, and sweet-smelling herbs. While engaged in her task the
giant came up, and the damsel smilingly told him that she was preparing
a couch whereon he might take some rest. Gratified at her solicitude, he
stretched himself unsuspectingly on the fragrant pile. In a moment the
damsel, uttering the name of the Trinity, threw a portion of the net
over him, so that he was completely enveloped. Immediately there arose
such loud oaths and lamentations that the damsel ran in terror to the
knight, who had now come upon the scene.

"Let us fly," she said, "lest he should escape and pursue us."

But Sir Eppo strode to the place where the howling monster lay entangled
in the net, and with a mighty effort rolled him over a steep precipice,
where he was instantly killed.

The story ends happily, for Sir Eppo and the maiden he