Page 589 - Child's own book

who committed great mischief by robbing and killing* firing
and burning, but no one could approach them without endan­
gering his life. If he should overcome and kill them, he would
give him his only daughter in marriage, and half of his kingdom
for a dowry; and a hundred horsemen should go with him
and give him their assistance. M That were something for such a
man as you/’ thought the tailor to himself; “ a beautiful piin-
cess and half a kingdom are not offered to one every day.Jt So
lie replied, “ Oh, yes 1 I will soon subdue these giants, and these
hundred horsemen are not necessary, for he who can stretch
seven at one Mow is not brought in fear by two Is'
The tailor set out, and the hundred knights followed, but
when they came to the edge of the forest, he said to his com­
panions, “ Stop here a bit, I would rather meet these giants
alone, and so saying he sprang off into the forest, peering
about him on all sides. In a little while he perceived both the
giants, who were lying under a tree asleep, and snoring so
loudly that the boughs above bent to and fro. The tailor waa
not idle, but filled both his pockets full of stones, and climbed
up the tree. As soon as he got to about the middle, he slid
along a bough until he was right above the sleepers' head*
Then he let one stone after the other fell upon the breast of
one giant. For a long time the giant did not stir, until at last
he awoke* pushed his companion, and said, “ What are you hit­
ting me for?^— “ You are dreaming,3’ replied the other; “ I
never strnek you ” They laid themselves down again to sleep,
and the tailor then threw a stone down upon the other giant.
u What’s that V ' he exclaimed; u why did you hit me 1 ”—
“ I did not strike you; you must dream,,J answered the first,
For awhile they looked about them, until, because they weie
tired, their weary eyes closed again* The tailor began his game
anew, and picking out the biggest stone threw it with