Page:Round the Yule Log.djvu/80

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56
The Giant who had no Heart.

don't look as if you could help me much either, but a little I must give you, for you want it badly, I see," and then he gave the raven some of the food he had with hira. When he had travelled some distance further, he came to a stream.- There he saw a big salmon, which had got ashore and was dashing and knocking himself about and could not get into the water again. *' Oh, dear friend ! help me into the water again," said the salmon to the prince, "and I will help you in your utmost need." — " I don't suppose it can be much of a help you can give me," said the prince, "but it is a pity you should lie there and very likely perish," so he shoved the fish into the stream again. So he travelled a long, long way, till he met a wolf, which was so famished that he was only able to drag himself along the road. " Dear friend, give me your horse," said the wolf. " I am so hungry, I hear the wind whistling in my empty stomach. I have had nothing to eat for two years." — **No," said Ashiepattle, I can't do it ; first I came to a raven which I had to give all my food to ; then I came to a salmon which I had to help back into the water ; and now you want my horse. But that is impossible, for then I should have nothing to ride upon." — "Yes, yes, my friend, but you must help me," said the wolf, "you can ride on me instead ; I shall help you again in your utmost need." — "Well, the help you can give me will not be great ; but I suppose you must have the horse then, since you are so needy," said the prince. And when the wolf had finished the horse Ashiepattle took the bridle and put the bit in the wolf's mouth and the saddle on his back, and the wolf felt now so strong and well after what he had had to eat, that he set off with the prince as if he were nothing at all ; Ashiepattle had never ridden so fast before. " When we get a little bit further I will show yotl a giant's castle," said the wolf, and in a little while they came there. ** See, here is the giant's castle," said the wolf again, " and there you see all your six brothers, whom the giant has turtied into stone, and there are their six brides. Over yonder is the door of the castle, and you must go in there." — " I dare not," said the prince, "the giant will kill me." — "Not at all," answered the wolf; "when yoii go in there you will meet a princess. She will tell you what to do to