"to whom I was to deliver a letter; but I have lost my way, and shall be glad if you will give me a night's rest." "You are very unlucky," said she, "for this is a robber's hut; and if the band returns while you are here, it may be worse for you." “I am so tired, however," replied he, "that I must take my chance, for I can go no further." So he laid the letter on the table, stretched himself on a bench, and fell asleep.

When the robbers came home and saw him, they asked the old woman who the strange lad was. "I have given him shelter for charity," said she; "he had a letter to carry to the queen, and lost his way." The robbers took up the letter, broke it open, and read the direction which it contained. Then their leader tore it in pieces, and wrote a fresh one desiring the queen, as soon as the young man arrived, to marry him to the king's daughter. Meantime they let him sleep on quietly till the morning, and then showed him the right way to the queen's palace; where, as soon as the queen had read the letter, she made ready the wedding, and as the young man was very beautiful, the princess took him willingly for her husband.

After a while, the king returned, and when he saw that the event had taken place as it had been foretold, he asked angrily how this had happened, and what were the orders which he had given. * Dear husband," said the queen, "here is your letter, read it for yourself." The king took it, and seeing that an exchange had been made, asked

his son-in-law what he had done with the letter which he had given him to carry. "I know nothing of it," replied he, "it must have been taken away in the night while I slept." Then the king was very wroth, and said, "No man shall have my daughter who does not descend into the wonderful cave, and bring me three golden hairs from the head of the giant king who reigns there. Do this and you shall have my consent." "I will soon manage that," said the youth. So he took leave of his wife, and set out on his journey.

THE GIANT WITH THE THREE
GOLDEN HAIRS.

PART II.

When the young man entered upon his journey, at the first city he came to, the guard of the gate stopped him, and asked him what trade he followed, and what he knew. "I know everything," said he. "If that be so," replied they, "you are just the man we want: be so good as to tell us why our fountain in the market-place is dry, and will give no water. Find out the cause of that, and we will give you two asses laden with gold." "With all my heart," said he, "when I come back."

Then he went on, and came to another city, and there the guard also asked him what trade he followed, and what he knew. "I know every

thing," replied he. "Then pray do us a piece of service," said they; "tell us why a tree, which used to bear us golden apples, now does not even produce a leaf." "Most willingly," replied he, as I come back again."

At last, his way led him to the side of a great lake of water, over which he must pass. The ferryman began to ask, as the others had done, what was his trade, and what he knew. "I know everything," said he. "Then," said the other, pray inform me why I am bound for ever to ferry over this water, and have never been able to get my liberty." "I will tell you all about it," said the young man, "as I come home."

"You

When he had passed the water, he came to the wonderful cave, which looked very black and gloomy. But the giant was not at home, and his grandmother sat at the door in her easy-chair. "What do you seek?" said she. "Three golden hairs from the giant's head," replied he. run a great risk," said she; "when he returns home I will try and see what I can do for you," Then she hid him in a secret place, and told him not to stir on any account. Very well," said he; "but I want also to know why the city fountain is dry; why the tree that bore golden apples is now leafless; and what it is that binds the ferryman to his post so that he cannot have his liberty." "Those are three puzzling questions," said the old dame; "but lie quiet, and listen to what the giant says when I pull the golden hairs.”

Soon after, night set in, and the giant came

home. As soon as he came in, he said, "All is not right here, I smell man's flesh." Then he searched all round in vain, for his grandmother had hidden the young man very cleverly. "Why should you turn everything topsy-turvy?" said she. "I have only just set all in order." On this he laid his head in her lap, and went to sleep.

As soon as he began to snore, she seized one of the golden hairs, and pulled it out. "What are you about?" cried he, starting up. "I had a dream that vexed me," said she, "and in my trouble I seized your hair. I dreamt that the fountain in the market-place of the city had become dry, and would give no water; what can be the cause of it?" "Ah! if they could find

that out they would be glad," said the giant. "Under a stone in the fountain sits a toad; when they kill him it will flow again." Having said this, he fell asleep again.

Then the old lady pulled out another hair. "What would you be at ?" cried he in a rage. "Don't be angry," said she, "I did it in my sleep. I dreamt that in a great kingdom there was a beautiful tree that used to bear golden apples, and that now there is not even a leaf upon it t; what is the reason of that?" "Aha," said the giant, "they would like very well to know that secret. At the root of the tree a mouse is gnawing: if they were to kill him, the tree would bear golden apples again. Now let me sleep in peace.” Then he fell once more asleep.

When she heard him snore, she pulled out the

third golden hair, and the giant jumped up and threatened her sorely; but she soothed him, and said: "I had a strange dream, in which I saw a ferryman who was fated to ply backwards and forwards over a lake, and could never be set at liberty; what is the charm that binds him?" "If he were to give the rudder into the hands of any passenger," said the giant, "he would find himself at liberty, and the other would be obliged to take his place. Now let me sleep in peace."

In the morning, the giant arose and went out, and the old woman gave the young man the three golden hairs, told him the answers to his three questions, and set him out on his way.

He soon came to the ferryman, who knew him again, and asked him for the answer which he had promised him. "Ferry me over first," said he, "and then I will tell you." When the boat had come to the other side, he told him to give the rudder to any of his passengers, and then he might run away as soon as he pleased.

The next place he came to, was the city where the barren tree stood. "Kill the mouse that gnaws the root," said he, "and you will have golden apples again." They gave him a rich present, and he went on to the city where the fountain had dried up. The guard asked for his answer to their question, and he told them to kill the toad that lay underneath the fountain, and the water would flow again. Then they gave him two asses laden with gold.

And now, at last, this child of fortune reached