Page:John Bunyan's Dream Story.djvu/187

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DOUBTING CASTLE
183

and beset him behind and before. They fought for their lives. They struggled long and hard.

At length Giant Despair was brought to the ground; but he was loath to give up. He fought after he was down, and he would have been up again had not Greatheart given him one final stroke with his sword, and thus ended his cruel life.

Then all went through the gate and began to demolish Doubting Castle. But this was a great task, even though Giant Despair was dead. They toiled seven days, and left not one stone upon another.

In the dungeon they found two pilgrims, whom the giant had shut up. These were Despondency, almost starved to death, and Miss Much-afraid, who was his daughter. How glad these two people were to see the sunlight again!

Now when they had finished with the castle they went back to the highway, where they had left the women; and all rejoiced and were glad.

Christiana played a merry tune upon the viol, and Mercy joined her upon the lute. And since all were so merry, what should they do but dance right there in the road. Even the damsel, Much-afraid, joined them; and, I promise you, she footed it well.