Timewenton,andthekingalwayssenttheoldfakeerhisfoodaccordingtohispromise;but,wheneverhesenttoaskhimwhenhewasgoingtoshowhimParadise,thefakeeralwaysreplied:\'Notyet,notyet！\'
Afterayearortwohadpassedby,thekingheardonedaythatthefakeerwasveryill——indeed,hewasbelievedtobedying。Instantlyhehurriedoffhimself,andfoundthatitwasreallytrue,andthatthefakeerwaseventhenbreathinghislast。Thereandthenthekingbesoughthimtorememberhispromise,andtoshowhimaglimpseofParadise。Thedyingfakeerrepliedthatifthekingwouldcometohisfuneral,and,whenthegravewasfilledin,andeveryoneelsewasgoneaway,hewouldcomeandlayhishanduponthegrave,hewouldkeephisword,andshowhimaglimpseofParadise。Atthesametimeheimploredthekingnottodothisthing,buttobecontenttoseeParadisewhenGodcalledhimthere。Stilltheking\'scuriositywassoarousedthathewouldnotgiveway。
Accordingly,afterthefakeerwasdead,andhadbeenburied,hestayedbehindwhenalltherestwentaway;andthen,whenhewasquitealone,hesteppedforward,andlaidhishanduponthegrave！Instantlythegroundopened,andtheastonishedking,peepingin,sawaflightofroughsteps,and,atthebottomofthem,thefakeersitting,justasheusedtosit,onhisricketybedstead,readingtheKoran！
Atfirstthekingwassosurprisedandfrightenedthathecouldonlystare;butthefakeerbeckonedtohimtocomedown,so,musteringuphiscourage,heboldlysteppeddownintothegrave。
Thefakeerrose,and,makingasigntothekingtofollow,walkedafewpacesalongadarkpassage。Thenhestopped,turnedsolemnlytohiscompanion,and,withamovementofhishand,drewasideasitwereaheavycurtain,andrevealed——what？Nooneknowswhatwasthereshowntotheking,nordidheevertellanyone;but,whenthefakeeratlengthdroppedthecurtain,andthekingturnedtoleavetheplace,hehadhadhisglimpseofParadise！Tremblingineverylimb,hestaggeredbackalongthepassage,andstumbledupthestepsoutofthetombintothefreshairagain。
Thedawnwasbreaking。Itseemedoddtothekingthathehadbeensolonginthegrave。Itappearedbutafewminutesagothathehaddescended,passedalongafewstepstotheplacewherehehadpeepedbeyondtheveil,andreturnedagainafterperhapsfiveminutesofthatwonderfulview！AndwhatWASithehadseen？Herackedhisbrainstoremember,buthecouldnotcalltomindasinglething！Howcuriouseverythinglookedtoo！Why,hisowncity,whichbynowhewasentering,seemedchangedandstrangetohim！Thesunwasalreadyupwhenheturnedintothepalacegateandenteredthepublicdurbarhall。
Itwasfull;andthereuponthethronesatanotherking！Thepoorking,allbewildered,satdownandstaredabouthim。Presentlyachamberlaincameacrossandaskedhimwhyhesatunbiddenintheking\'spresence。\'ButIamtheking！\'hecried。
\'Whatking？\'saidthechamberlain。
\'Thetruekingofthiscountry,\'saidheindignantly。
Thenthechamberlainwentaway,andspoketothekingwhosatonthethrone,andtheoldkingheardwordslike\'mad,\'\'age,\'\'compassion。\'
Thenthekingonthethronecalledhimtocomeforward,and,ashewent,hecaughtsightofhimselfreflectedinthepolishedsteelshieldofthebodyguard,andstartedbackinhorror！Hewasold,decrepit,dirty,andragged！Hislongwhitebeardandlockswereunkempt,andstraggledalloverhischestandshoulders。Onlyonesignofroyaltyremainedtohim,andthatwasthesignetringuponhisrighthand。Hedraggeditoffwithshakingfingersandheldituptotheking。
\'TellmewhoIam,\'hecried;\'thereismysignet,whooncesatwhereyousit——evenyesterday！\'
Thekinglookedathimcompassionately,andexaminedthesignetwithcuriosity。Thenhecommanded,andtheybroughtoutdustyrecordsandarchivesofthekingdom,andoldcoinsofpreviousreigns,andcomparedthemfaithfully。Atlastthekingturnedtotheoldman,andsaid:
\'Oldman,suchakingasthiswhosesignetthouhast,reignedsevenhundredyearsago;butheissaidtohavedisappeared,noneknowwhither;wheregotyouthering？\'
Thentheoldmansmotehisbreast,andcriedoutwithaloudlamentation;forheunderstoodthathe,whowasnotcontenttowaitpatientlytoseetheParadiseofthefaithful,hadbeenjudgedalready。
Andheturnedandleftthehallwithoutaword,andwentintothejungle,wherehelivedfortwenty—fiveyearsalifeofprayerandmeditations,untilatlasttheAngelofDeathcametohim,andmercifullyreleasedhim,purgedandpurifiedthroughhispunishment。
[APathanstorytoldtoMajorCampbell。]
HowIsurotheRabbitTrickedGuduFarawayinahotcountry,wheretheforestsareverythickanddark,andtheriversveryswiftandstrong,thereoncelivedastrangepairoffriends。NowoneofthefriendswasabigwhiterabbitnamedIsuro,andtheotherwasatallbabooncalledGudu,andsofondweretheyofeachotherthattheywereseldomseenapart。
Oneday,whenthesunwashottereventhanusual,therabbitawokefromhismiddaysleep,andsawGuduthebaboonstandingbesidehim。
\'Getup,\'saidGudu;\'Iamgoingcourting,andyoumustcomewithme。
Soputsomefoodinabag,andslingitroundyourneck,forwemaynotbeabletofindanythingtoeatforalongwhile。\'
Thentherabbitrubbedhiseyes,andgatheredastoreoffreshgreenthingsfromunderthebushes,andtoldGuduthathewasreadyforthejourney。
Theywentonquitehappilyforsomedistance,andatlasttheycametoariverwithrocksscatteredhereandthereacrossthestream。
\'Wecanneverjumpthosewidespacesifweareburdenedwithfood,\'
saidGudu,\'wemustthrowitintotheriver,unlesswewishtofallinourselves。\'Andstoopingdown,unseenbyIsuro,whowasinfrontofhim,Gudupickedupabigstone,andthrewitintothewaterwithaloudsplash。
\'Itisyourturnnow,\'hecriedtoIsuro。Andwithaheavysigh,therabbitunfastenedhisbagoffood,whichfellintotheriver。
Theroadontheothersideleddownanavenueoftrees,andbeforetheyhadgoneveryfarGuduopenedthebagthatlayhiddeninthethickhairabouthisneck,andbegantoeatsomedelicious—lookingfruit。
\'Wheredidyougetthatfrom？\'askedIsuroenviously。
\'Oh,IfoundafterallthatIcouldgetacrosstherocksquiteeasily,soitseemedapitynottokeepmybag,\'answeredGudu。
\'Well,asyoutrickedmeintothrowingawaymine,yououghttoletmesharewithyou,\'saidIsuro。ButGudupretendednottohearhim,andstrodealongthepath。
By—and—byetheyenteredawood,andrightinfrontofthemwasatreesoladenwithfruitthatitsbranchesswepttheground。Andsomeofthefruitwasstillgreen,andsomeyellow。Therabbithoppedforwardwithjoy,forhewasveryhungry;butGudusaidtohim:\'Pluckthegreenfruit,youwillfinditmuchthebest。Iwillleaveitallforyou,asyouhavehadnodinner,andtaketheyellowformyself。\'Sotherabbittookoneofthegreenorangesandbegantobiteit,butitsskinwassohardthathecouldhardlygethisteeththroughtherind。
\'Itdoesnottasteatallnice,\'hecried,screwinguphisface;\'I
wouldratherhaveoneoftheyellowones。\'
\'No！no！Ireallycouldnotallowthat,\'answeredGudu。\'Theywouldonlymakeyouill。Becontentwiththegreenfruit。\'Andastheywereallhecouldget,Isurowasforcedtoputupwiththem。
Afterthishadhappenedtwoorthreetimes,Isuroatlasthadhiseyesopened,andmadeuphismindthat,whateverGudutoldhim,hewoulddoexactlytheopposite。However,bythistimetheyhadreachedthevillagewheredweltGudu\'sfuturewife,andastheyenteredGudupointedtoaclumpofbushes,andsaidtoIsuro:\'WheneverIameating,andyouhearmecalloutthatmyfoodhasburntme,runasfastasyoucanandgathersomeofthoseleavesthattheymayhealmymouth。\'
Therabbitwouldhavelikedtoaskhimwhyheatefoodthatheknewwouldburnhim,onlyhewasafraid,andjustnoddedinreply;butwhentheyhadgoneonalittlefurther,hesaidtoGudu:
\'Ihavedroppedmyneedle;waithereamomentwhileIgoandfetchit。\'
\'Bequickthen,\'answeredGudu,climbingintoatree。Andtherabbithastenedbacktothebushes,andgatheredaquantityoftheleaves,whichhehidamonghisfur,\'For,\'thoughthe,\'ifIgetthemnowI
shallsavemyselfthetroubleofawalkby—and—by。\'
WhenhehadpluckedasmanyashewantedhereturnedtoGudu,andtheywentontogether。
Thesunwasalmostsettingbythetimetheyreachedtheirjourney\'sendandbeingverytiredtheygladlysatdownbyawell。ThenGudu\'sbetrothed,whohadbeenwatchingforhim,broughtoutapitcherofwater——whichshepouredoverthemtowashoffthedustoftheroad——andtwoportionsoffood。Butonceagaintherabbit\'shopesweredashedtotheground,forGudusaidhastily:
\'ThecustomofthevillageforbidsyoutoeattillIhavefinished。\'
AndIsurodidnotknowthatGuduwaslying,andthatheonlywantedmorefood。Sohesawhungrilylookingon,waitingtillhisfriendhadhadenough。
InalittlewhileGuduscreamedloudly:\'Iamburnt！Iamburnt！\'
thoughhewasnotburntatall。Now,thoughIsurohadtheleavesabouthim,hedidnotdaretoproducethematthelastmomentlestthebaboonshouldguesswhyhehadstayedbehind。Sohejustwentroundacornerforashorttime,andthencamehoppingbackinagreathurry。But,quickthoughhewas,Guduhadbeenquickerstill,andnothingremainedbutsomedropsofwater。
\'Howunluckyyouare,\'saidGudu,snatchingtheleaves;\'nosoonerhadyougonethaneversomanypeoplearrived,andwashedtheirhands,asyousee,andateyourportion。\'But,thoughIsuroknewbetterthantobelievehim,hesaidnothing,andwenttobedhungrierthanhehadeverbeeninhislife。
Earlynextmorningtheystartedforanothervillage,andpassedonthewayalargegardenwherepeoplewereverybusygatheringmonkey—nuts。
\'Youcanhaveagoodbreakfastatlast,\'saidGudu,pointingtoaheapofemptyshells;neverdoubtingbutthatIsurowouldmeeklytaketheportionshownhim,andleavetherealnutsforhimself。ButwhatwashissurprisewhenIsuroanswered:
\'Thankyou;IthinkIshouldpreferthese。\'And,turningtothekernels,neverstoppedaslongastherewasoneleft。Andtheworstofitwasthat,withsomanypeopleabout,Guducouldnottakethenutsfromhim。
ItwasnightwhentheyreachedthevillagewheredweltthemotherofGudu\'sbetrothed,wholaidmeatandmilletporridgebeforethem。
\'Ithinkyoutoldmeyouwerefondofporridge,\'saidGudu;butIsuroanswered:\'Youaremistakingmeforsomebodyelse,asIalwayseatmeatwhenIcangetit。\'AndagainGuduwasforcedtobecontentwiththeporridge,whichhehated。
Whilehewaseatingit,howeverasuddenthoughtdartedintohismind,andhemanagedtoknockoveragreatpotofwaterwhichwashanginginfrontofthefire,andputitquiteout。
\'Now,\'saidthecunningcreaturetohimself,\'Ishallbeableinthedarktostealhismeat！\'Buttherabbithadgrownascunningashe,andstandinginacornerhidthemeatbehindhim,sothatthebabooncouldnotfindit。
\'OGudu！\'hecried,laughingaloud,\'itisyouwhohavetaughtmetobeclever。\'Andcallingtothepeopleofthehouse,hebadethemkindlethefire,forGuduwouldsleepbyit,butthathewouldpassthenightwithsomefriendsinanotherhut。
ItwasstillquitedarkwhenIsuroheardhisnamecalledverysoftly,and,onopeninghiseyes,beheldGudustandingbyhim。Layinghisfingeronhisnose,intokenofsilence,hesignedtoIsurotogetupandfollowhim,anditwasnotuntiltheyweresomedistancefromthehutthatGuduspoke。
\'IamhungryandwantsomethingtoeatbetterthanthatnastyporridgethatIhadforsupper。SoIamgoingtokilloneofthosegoats,andasyouareagoodcookyoumustboilthefleshforme。\'Therabbitnodded,andGududisappearedbehindarock,butsoonreturneddraggingthedeadgoatwithhim。Thetwothensetaboutskinningit,afterwhichtheystuffedtheskinwithdriedleaves,sothatnoonewouldhaveguesseditwasnotalive,andsetitupinthemiddleofalumpofbushes,whichkeptitfirmonitsfeet。Whilehewasdoingthis,Isurocollectedsticksforafire,andwhenitwaskindled,Guduhastenedtoanotherhuttostealapotwhichhefilledwithwaterfromtheriver,and,plantingtwobranchesintheground,theyhungthepotwiththemeatinitoverthefire。
\'Itwillnotbefittoeatfortwohoursatleast,\'saidGudu,\'sowecanbothhaveanap。\'Andhestretchedhimselfoutontheground,andpretendedtofallfastasleep,but,inreality,hewasonlywaitingtillitwassafetotakeallthemeatforhimself。\'SurelyIhearhimsnore,\'hethought;andhestoletotheplacewhereIsurowaslyingonapileofwood,buttherabbit\'seyeswerewideopen。
\'Howtiresome,\'mutteredGudu,ashewentbacktohisplace;andafterwaitingalittlelongerhegotup,andpeepedagain,butstilltherabbit\'spinkeyesstaredwidely。IfGuduhadonlyknown,Isurowasasleepallthetime;butthisheneverguessed,andby—and—byehegrewsotiredwithwatchingthathewenttosleephimself。Soonafter,Isurowokeup,andhetoofelthungry,sohecreptsoftlytothepotandateallthemeat,whilehetiedthebonestogetherandhungtheminGudu\'sfur。Afterthathewentbacktothewood—pileandsleptagain。
InthemorningthemotherofGudu\'sbetrothedcameouttomilkhergoats,andongoingtothebusheswherethelargestoneseemedentangled,shefoundoutthetrick。Shemadesuchlamentthatthepeopleofthevillagecamerunning,andGuduandIsurojumpedupalso,andpretendedtobeassurprisedandinterestedastherest。Buttheymusthavelookedguiltyafterall,forsuddenlyanoldmanpointedtothem,andcried:
\'Thosearethieves。\'AndatthesoundofhisvoicethebigGudutrembledallover。
\'Howdareyousaysuchthings？Idefyyoutoproveit,\'answeredIsuroboldly。Andhedancedforward,andturnedheadoverheels,andshookhimselfbeforethemall。
\'Ispokehastily;youareinnocent,\'saidtheoldman;\'butnowletthebaboondolikewise。\'AndwhenGudubegantojumpthegoat\'sbonesrattledandthepeoplecried:\'ItisGuduwhoisthegoat—slayer！\'ButGuduanswered:
\'Nay,Ididnotkillyourgoat;itwasIsuro,andheatethemeat,andhungthebonesroundmyneck。Soitishewhoshoulddie！\'Andthepeoplelookedateachother,fortheyknewnotwhattobelieve。Atlengthonemansaid:
\'Letthembothdie,buttheymaychoosetheirowndeaths。\'
ThenIsuroanswered:
\'Ifwemustdie,putusintheplacewherethewoodiscut,andheapitupallroundus,sothatwecannotescape,andsetfiretothewood;
andifoneisburnedandtheotherisnot,thenhethatisburnedisthegoat—slayer。\'
AndthepeopledidasIsurohadsaid。ButIsuroknewofaholeunderthewood—pile,andwhenthefirewaskindledheranintothehole,butGududiedthere。
Whenthefirehadburneditselfoutandonlyasheswereleftwherethewoodhadbeen,Isurocameoutofhishole,andsaidtothepeople:
\'Lo！didInotspeakwell？Hewhokilledyourgoatisamongthoseashes。\'
[MashonaStory。]
Ian,theSoldier\'sSonTheredweltaknightinGrianaigofthelandoftheWest,whohadthreedaughters,andforgoodnessandbeautytheyhadnottheirlikeinalltheisles。Allthepeoplelovedthem,andloudwastheweepingwhenoneday,asthethreemaidenssatontherocksontheedgeofthesea,dippingtheirfeetinthewater,therearoseagreatbeastfromunderthewavesandsweptthemawaybeneaththeocean。Andnoneknewwhithertheyhadgone,orhowtoseekthem。
Nowtherelivedinatownafewmilesoffasoldierwhohadthreesons,fineyouthsandstrong,andthebestplayersatshinnyinthatcountry。
AtChristmastidethatyear,whenfamiliesmettogetherandgreatfeastswereheld,Ian,theyoungestofthethreebrothers,said:
\'LetushaveamatchatshinnyonthelawnoftheknightofGrianaig,forhislawniswiderandthegrasssmootherthanours。\'
Buttheothersanswered:
\'Nay,forheisinsorrow,andhewillthinkofthegamesthatwehaveplayedtherewhenhisdaughterslookedon。\'
\'Lethimbepleasedorangryashewill,\'saidIan;\'wewilldriveourballonhislawnto—day。\'
Andsoitwasdone,andIanwonthreegamesfromhisbrothers。Buttheknightlookedoutofhiswindow,andwaswroth;andbadehismenbringtheyouthsbeforehim。Whenhestoodinhishallandbeheldthem,hisheartwassoftenedsomewhat;buthisfacewasangryasheasked:
\'Whydidyouchoosetoplayshinnyinfrontofmycastlewhenyouknewfullwellthattheremembranceofmydaughterswouldcomebacktome？
Thepainwhichyouhavemademesufferyoushallsufferalso。\'
\'Sincewehavedoneyouwrong,\'answeredIan,theyoungest,\'buildusaship,andwewillgoandseekyourdaughters。Letthembetowindward,ortoleeward,orunderthefourbrownboundariesofthesea,wewillfindthembeforeayearandadaygoesby,andwillcarrythembacktoGrianaig。\'
Insevendaystheshipwasbuilt,andgreatstoreoffoodandwineplacedinher。Andthethreebrothersputherheadtotheseaandsailedaway,andinsevendaystheshipranherselfontoabeachofwhitesand,andtheyallwentashore。Theyhadnoneofthemeverseenthatlandbefore,andlookedaboutthem。Thentheysawthat,ashortwayfromthem,anumberofmenwereworkingonarock,withonemanstandingoverthem。
\'Whatplaceisthis？\'askedtheeldestbrother。Andthemanwhowasstandingbymadeanswer:
\'ThisistheplacewheredwellthethreedaughtersoftheknightofGrianaig,whoaretobeweddedto—morrowtothreegiants。\'
\'Howcanwefindthem？\'askedtheyoungmanagain。Andtheoverlookeranswered:
\'ToreachthedaughtersoftheknightofGrianaigyoumustgetintothisbasket,andbedrawnbyaropeupthefaceofthisrock。\'
\'Oh,thatiseasilydone,\'saidtheeldestbrother,jumpingintothebasket,whichatoncebegantomove——up,andup,andup——tillhehadgoneabouthalf—way,whenafatblackravenflewathimandpeckedhimtillhewasnearlyblind,sothathewasforcedtogobackthewayhehadcome。
Afterthatthesecondbrothergotintothecreel;buthefarednobetter,fortheravenflewuponhim,andhereturnedashisbrotherhaddone。
\'Nowitismyturn,\'saidIan。Butwhenhewashalfwayuptheravensetuponhimalso。
\'Quick！quick！\'criedIantothemenwhoheldtherope。\'Quick！quick！
orIshallbeblinded！\'Andthemenpulledwithalltheirmight,andinanothermomentIanwasontop,andtheravenbehindhim。
\'Willyougivemeapieceoftobacco？\'askedtheraven,whowasnowquitequiet。
\'Yourascal！AmItogiveyoutobaccofortryingtopeckmyeyesout？\'
answeredIan。
\'Thatwaspartofmyduty,\'repliedtheraven;\'butgiveittome,andIwillproveagoodfriendtoyou。\'SoIanbrokeoffapieceoftobaccoandgaveittohim。Theravenhiditunderhiswing,andthenwenton;\'NowIwilltakeyoutothehouseofthebiggiant,wheretheknight\'sdaughtersitssewing,sewing,tillevenherthimbleiswetwithtears。\'Andtheravenhoppedbeforehimtilltheyreachedalargehouse,thedoorofwhichstoodopen。Theyenteredandpassedthroughonehallaftertheother,untiltheyfoundtheknight\'sdaughter,asthebirdhadsaid。
\'Whatbroughtyouhere？\'askedshe。AndIanmadeanswer:
\'WhymayInotgowhereyoucango？\'
\'Iwasbroughthitherbyagiant,\'repliedshe。
\'Iknowthat,\'saidIan;\'buttellmewherethegiantis,thatImayfindhim。\'
\'Heisonthehuntinghill,\'answeredshe;\'andnoughtwillbringhimhomesaveashakeoftheironchainwhichhangsoutsidethegate。But,there,neithertoleeward,nortowindward,norinthefourbrownboundariesofthesea,isthereanymanthatcanholdbattleagainsthim,saveonlyIan,thesoldier\'sson,andheisnowbutsixteenyearsold,andhowshallhestandagainstthegiant？\'
\'InthelandwhenceIhavecometherearemanymenwiththestrengthofIan,\'answeredhe。Andhewentoutsideandpulledatthechain,buthecouldnotmoveit,andfellontohisknees。Atthatheroseswiftly,andgatheringuphisstrength,heseizedthechain,andthistimeheshookitsothatthelinkbroke。Andthegianthearditonthehuntinghill,andliftedhishead,thinking——
\'ItsoundslikethenoiseofIan,thesoldier\'sson,\'saidhe;\'butasyetheisonlysixteenyearsold。Still,Ihadbetterlooktoit。\'
Andhomehecame。
\'AreyouIan,thesoldier\'sson？\'heasked,asheenteredthecastle。
\'No,ofasurety,\'answeredtheyouth,whohadnowishthattheyshouldknowhim。
\'Thenwhoareyouintheleeward,orinthewindward,orinthefourbrownboundariesofthesea,whoareabletomovemybattle—chain？\'
\'ThatwillbeplaintoyouafterwrestlingwithmeasIwrestlewithmymother。Andonetimeshegotthebetterofme,andtwotimesshedidnot。\'
Sotheywrestled,andtwistedandstrovewitheachothertillthegiantforcedIantohisknee。
\'Youarethestronger,\'saidIan;andthegiantanswered:
\'Allmenknowthat！\'Andtheytookholdofeachotheroncemore,andatlastIanthrewthegiant,andwishedthattheravenweretheretohelphim。Nosoonerhadhewishedhiswishthantheravencame。
\'Putyourhandundermyrightwingandyouwillfindaknifesharpenoughtotakeoffhishead,\'saidtheraven。Andtheknifewassosharpthatitcutoffthegiant\'sheadwithablow。
\'NowgoandtellthedaughterofthekingofGrianaig;buttakeheedlestyoulistentoherwords,andpromisetogonofurther,forshewillseektohelpyou。Instead,seekthemiddledaughter,andwhenyouhavefoundher,youshallgivemeapieceoftobaccoforreward。\'
\'WellhaveyouearnedthehalfofallIhave,\'answeredIan。Buttheravenshookhishead。
\'Youknowonlywhathaspassed,andnothingofwhatliesbefore。Ifyouwouldnotfail,washyourselfincleanwater,andtakebalsamfromavesselontopofthedoor,andrubitoveryourbody,andto—morrowyouwillbeasstrongasmanymen,andIwillleadyoutothedwellingofthemiddleone。\'
Iandidastheravenbadehim,andinspiteoftheeldestdaughter\'sentreaties,hesetouttoseekhernextsister。Hefoundherwhereshewasseatedsewing,herverythimblewetfromthetearswhichshehadshed。
\'Whatbroughtyouhere？\'askedthesecondsister。
\'WhymayInotgowhereyoucango？\'answeredhe;\'andwhyareyouweeping？\'
\'BecauseinonedayIshallbemarriedtothegiantwhoisonthehuntinghill。\'
\'HowcanIgethimhome？\'askedIan。
\'Noughtwillbringhimbutashakeofthatironchainwhichhangsoutsidethegate。Butthereisneithertoleeward,nortowestward,norinthefourbrownboundariesofthesea,anymanthatcanholdbattlewithhim,saveIan,thesoldier\'sson,andheisnowbutsixteenyearsofage。\'
\'InthelandwhenceIhavecometherearemanymenwiththestrengthofIan,\'saidhe。Andhewentoutsideandpulledatthechain,buthecouldnotmoveit,andfellonhisknees。Atthatherosetohisfeet,andgatheringuphisstrengthmightily,heseizedthechain,andthistimeheshookitsothatthreelinksbroke。Andthesecondgianthearditonthehuntinghill,andliftedhishead,thinking——
\'ItsoundslikethenoiseofIan,thesoldier\'sson,\'saidhe;\'butasyetheisonlysixteenyearsold。Still,Ihadbetterlooktoit。\'
Andhomehecame。
\'AreyouIan,thesoldier\'sson？\'heasked,asheenteredthecastle。
\'No,ofasurety,\'answeredtheyouth,whohadnowishthatthisgiantshouldknowhimeither;\'butIwillwrestlewithyouasifIwerehe。\'
Thentheyseizedeachotherbytheshoulder,andthegiantthrewhimonhistwoknees。\'Youarethestronger,\'criedIan;\'butIamnotbeatenyet。\'Andrisingtohisfeet,hethrewhisarmsroundthegiant。
Backwardsandforwardstheyswayed,andfirstonewasuppermostandthentheother;butatlengthIanworkedhislegroundthegiant\'sandthrewhimtotheground。Thenhecalledtotheraven,andtheravencameflappingtowardshim,andsaid:\'Putyourhandundermyrightwing,andyouwillfindthereaknifesharpenoughtotakeoffhishead。\'Andsharpindeeditwas,forwithasingleblow,thegiant\'sheadrolledfromhisbody。
\'Nowwashyourselfwithwarmwater,andrubyourselfoverwithoilofbalsam,andto—morrowyouwillbeasstrongasmanymen。Butbewareofthewordsoftheknight\'sdaughter,forsheiscunning,andwilltrytokeepyouatherside。Sofarewell;butfirstgivemeapieceoftobacco。\'
\'ThatIwillgladly,\'answeredIanbreakingoffalargebit。
Hewashedandrubbedhimselfthatnight,astheravenhadtoldhim,andthenextmorningheenteredthechamberwheretheknight\'sdaughterwassitting。
\'Abideherewithme,\'shesaid,\'andbemyhusband。Thereissilverandgoldinplentyinthecastle。\'Buthetooknoheed,andwentonhiswaytillhereachedthecastlewheretheknight\'syoungestdaughterwassewinginthehall。Andtearsdroppedfromhereyesontoherthimble。
\'Whatbroughtyouhere？\'askedshe。AndIanmadeanswer:
\'WhymayInotgowhereyoucango？\'
\'Iwasbroughthitherbyagiant。\'
\'Iknowfullwell,\'saidhe。
\'AreyouIan,thesoldier\'sson？\'askedsheagain。Andagainheanswered:
\'Yes,Iam;buttellme,whyareyouweeping？\'
\'To—morrowthegiantwillreturnfromthehuntinghill,andImustmarryhim,\'shesobbed。AndIantooknoheed,andonlysaid:\'HowcanIbringhimhome？\'
\'Shaketheironchainthathangsoutsidethegate。\'
AndIanwentout,andgavesuchapulltothechainthathefelldownatfulllengthfromtheforceoftheshake。Butinamomenthewasonhisfeetagain,andseizedthechainwithsomuchstrengththatfourlinkscameoffinhishand。Andthegiantheardhiminthehuntinghill,ashewasputtingthegamehehadkilledintoabag。
\'Intheleeward,orthewindward,orinthefourbrownboundariesofthesea,thereisnonewhocouldgivemychainashakesaveonlyIan,thesoldier\'sson。Andifhehasreachedme,thenhehasleftmytwobrothersdeadbehindhim。\'Withthathestrodebacktothecastle,theearthtremblingunderhimashewent。
\'AreyouIan,thesoldier\'sson？\'askedhe。Andtheyouthanswered:
\'No,ofasurety。\'
\'Thenwhoareyouintheleeward,orthewindward,orinthefourbrownboundariesofthesea,whoareabletoshakemybattlechain？ThereisonlyIan,thesoldier\'sson,whocandothis,andheisbutnowsixteenyearsold。
\'IwillshowyouwhoIamwhenyouhavewrestledwithme,\'saidIan。
Andtheythrewtheirarmsroundeachother,andthegiantforcedIanontohisknees;butinamomenthewasupagain,andcrookinghislegroundtheshouldersofthegiant,hethrewhimheavilytotheground。
\'Stumpyblackraven,comequick！\'criedhe;andtheravencame,andbeatthegiantabouttheheadwithhiswings,sothathecouldnotgetup。ThenhebadeIantakeoutasharpknifefromunderhisfeathers,whichhecarriedwithhimforcuttingberries,andIansmoteoffthegiant\'sheadwithit。Andsosharpwasthatknifethat,withoneblow,thegiant\'sheadrolledontheground。
\'Restnowthisnightalso,\'saidtheraven,\'andto—morrowyoushalltaketheknight\'sthreedaughterstotheedgeoftherockthatleadstothelowerworld。Buttakeheedtogodownfirstyourself,andletthemfollowafteryou。AndbeforeIgoyoushallgivemeapieceoftobacco。\'
\'Takeitall,\'answeredIan,\'forwellhaveyouearnedit。\'
\'No;givemebutapiece。Youknowwhatisbehindyou,butyouhavenoknowledgeofwhatisbeforeyou。\'Andpickingupthetobaccoinhisbeak,theravenflewaway。
Sothenextmorningtheknight\'syoungestdaughterloadedasseswithallthesilverandgoldtobefoundinthecastle,andshesetoutwithIanthesoldier\'ssonforthehousewherehersecondsisterwaswaitingtoseewhatwouldbefall。Shealsohadassesladenwithpreciousthingstocarryaway,andsohadtheeldestsister,whentheyreachedthecastlewhereshehadbeenkeptaprisoner。Togethertheyallrodetotheedgeoftherock,andthenIanlaydownandshouted,andthebasketwasdrawnup,andinittheygotonebyone,andwereletdowntothebottom。Whenthelastonewasgone,Ianshouldhavegonealso,andleftthethreesisterstocomeafterhim;buthehadforgottentheraven\'swarning,andbadethemgofirst,lestsomeaccidentshouldhappen。Only,hebeggedtheyoungestsistertolethimkeepthelittlegoldcapwhich,liketheothers,sheworeonherhead;andthenhehelpedthem,eachinherturn,intothebasket。