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。