Page:Danish fairy and folk tales.djvu/239

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BRAVE AGAINST HIS WILL

"No; let us eat him," proposed the other.

"We will dry him, as I said," returned his companion.

"Will we, indeed?" replied the first, stealing a glance at his friend. "No; as I caught him, I wish to determine what to do with him, and I am bent upon having him for supper."

"But I say he shall he dried," said the first, again.

"I say he shall not!" cried the other.

"He shall!" yelled the first, poking his friend in the ribs.

"Do you mean to strike me?" shouted the other, furiously, seizing a heavy club.

"Why not?" roared his companion, in a great rage, catching hold of a young tree and brandishing it over his head.

Now the battle began. The little tailor was dropped and forgotten, while the giants used their clubs against each other with such a force that every stroke sounded as if one of the largest trees were felled to the ground. The great warrior who slew seven with one stroke would have run away, but became so frightened that he was utterly unable to move; so with closed eyes and shaking limbs he awaited the end of the struggle, thinking how foolish it was for him to leave his needle and thread for such exploits as killing dragons, serpents, and giants.

At length all was still, and the tailor ventured to open his eyes. Both giants were lying on the

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