another spoonful; but the boy continued with just as much good will as when he began. The giant asked him how it was, that he who was so little could eat so much. The boy answered: Father, I will soon show you. When I have eaten as much as I can contain, I slit up my stomach, and then I can take in as much again." Saying these words, he took a knife and ripped up the wallet, so that the porridge ran out. The giant thought this a capital plan, and that he would do the like. But when he stuck the knife in his stomach, the blood began to flow, and the end of the matter was, that it proved his death.

When the giant was dead, the boy took all the chattels that were in the house, and went his way in the night. And so ends the story of the crafty herd-boy and the doltish giant.

According to another version of this story, also from South Småland, when the giant and the boy are to try which is the stronger, the giant hurled a stone high up in the air; but the stone constantly came down again; while the boy threw up a bird, which he had caught and carried in his cap. When the bird flew away and did not return, the giant thought that the boy's throw had reached the clouds, and thence concluded that the lad must be the stronger of the two.

II. THE BOY THAT LET THE GIANT'S CHILD FALL INTO THE

WELL.

THERE were once a giant and a giantess who dwelt in a forest. Round about their habitation there were fruitful fields, so that the giant's cattle were always in good condition; while the people in the neighbouring parts had poor and scanty pasture. This vexed them, and they sometimes let their cattle graze on the giant's land; the consequence was, that the giant, who was of an exceedingly fierce and cruel disposition, frequently attacked the herdsmen and slew them.

Not far from the giant's abode, there dwelt a poor woman who had an only son. He was little and weakly, but very cunning and daring. One day the boy requested his mother to make three cheeses. The woman did as he

requested. When the cheeses were ready, the boy rolled them in the ashes, so that they appeared gray and far from tempting. At this the mother was angry, and chided him for having wasted the bounties of heaven. But the boy begged her to make herself easy; for she could not know what he had in mind.

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Early in the morning the boy went to the forest with his mother's cattle, and drove them on to the giant's land. Here he wandered about without hindrance, as long as the sun was up. Towards evening he collected his cattle, and prepared to return home; but in the meanwhile the giant had become aware of his visit, and now came with great strides towards him. The giant was highly incensed, and looked so terrific, that the boy, in spite of all his boldness, was not a little frightened. "What art thou doing here in my pasture?" cried the giant. The boy answered, that he came to find food for his cattle. The giant said: Take thyself away this instant, else I will crush thee as I now crush this stone." Saying this the giant snatched up a large gray stone that was lying on the ground, and squeezed it so that it flew in a thousand shivers. The boy said: "Thou art very strong; but I am no less so, although I am small of growth." He then took one of his cheeses and squeezed it so that the water ran out. On seeing this, the giant was all astonishment, and thought there must be some deception at bottom. He, therefore, took up another stone, and squeezed it into small fragments; but the boy took another cheese, and pressed the water from it as before. This game was played a third time, and the boy pressed the water out of the third cheese. Well," said the giant, I had no idea thou wast so strong. Follow me to my dwelling, and serve me faithfully, and I will give thee three bushels of gold. But if thou dost not please me, I will cut three broad strips out of thy back." The boy answered: "These seem to me very fair conditions; but I must now drive my cattle into the town." So they agreed to meet on the following day, and thus their interview concluded for that time.

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On the following day the boy went to the forest and met the giant according to agreement. Thence they proceeded to the giant's abode. But the giant's wife was so large and

fierce, that the boy stood in greater fear of her than of the giant himself.

When a short time had elapsed, the giant and his boy went to the forest to cut wood; and the giant said: "As thou art so strong thou canst carry my axe.' Now the axe was uncommonly large and heavy, so that the boy could hardly lift it; he, therefore, said: "It is better that you carry the axe yourself, then I can go first and show the way." In this the giant acquiesced, and they set out. On reaching the place, the giant stopped by a large tree, and said: “As thou art so strong, thou canst strike the first blow, and I will strike the second." "No," answered the boy, "I am not accustomed to fell with so small an axe. You can strike the first stroke, and I will strike the next." The giant let himself be content with this arrangement, took up the axe, and struck a powerful stroke close at the root; and so effectual was it, that the tree fell on the earth with a loud crash. Thus the boy escaped, for that time, giving a proof of his strength.

The tree was now to be carried home, and the giant asked the boy whether he would bear it at the top-end or at the root. The boy said he would bear it at the top. The giant then lifted the tree upon his shoulder, but the boy cried out that he should carry it more forward. The giant did so, and thus got the whole trunk in equilibrium on his shoulder. The boy then jumped up and hid himself among the boughs of the tree. When they reached home, the giant was very tired; but the boy said he thought it quite a light job.

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On the following day, the giant said he would go out, and that the boy could remain at home and help the giantess to churn. So she brought out a churn full of milk; but the churn was so large that the boy could hardly lift the churning staff. He said, therefore, to the woman: Mother, this seems a light sort of job; but I should be glad if you would just show me how to set about it." The giantess did as he desired, and began to churn, while the boy stood looking on. At this moment the giant's child began to cry, and the crone said: Do thou take the young one with thee to the well, and wash her clean: I will churn while thou art away." The boy went, but without in the least

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hurrying himself; and on reaching the well, at which he was to wash the child, who was somewhat less than himself, it so happened that the child rolled into the water and was drowned. The boy thought this mishap was of no great consequence; but, at the same time, was of opinion that thenceforth it might be as well not to remain longer with the giant-folk.

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When the boy returned, the giantess had finished the churning. Thou hast stayed a long time," said she; "but what hast thou done with the child?" The boy answered: "As soon as I had washed her she ran into the forest to meet her father." "Very well," replied the woman, they will then soon come home together."

Towards evening the giant returned from the forest, and was very tired. The crone, on seeing him approach, called to him: "Father, what hast thou done with the child?" The giant answered: "I have seen no child." The giantess, on hearing this, was frightened, and began to cry and lament. The boy proposed that he and the giant should go to the wood in search of the infant, and they set out accordingly; but after looking in every direction, it is needless to say that they did not find it.

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After wandering about for a long time, they came to the boundary of the giant's land. The boy then said: "Father, I am now not far from home. Give me leave to go to my mother, who expects me. To-morrow I will come again, and help you to search." The giant answered: Thou mayest go, as thou hast served me so faithfully; but come back soon." Saying this he took forth three bushels of gold, which he gave to the boy, in reward for his services. The boy thanked him, and said that next time he would serve him still better.

The giant and the herd-boy now went different ways. The boy returned to his mother, and gave her all the gold he had earned; so that from that day they were rich and fortunate. But the giant wandered about in the forest seeking his child.

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II.

NORWEGIAN.

GRIMSBORK.

THERE was once a couple of rich people who had twelve sons, the youngest of whom, when he was grown up, would remain no longer at home, but would go and seek his fortune in the wide world. His parents strove to convince him that he was very well off at home, and might well remain with them; but he could not rest, and persisted in his determination to seek his fortune abroad; and so they were obliged to consent. After travelling a long way, he came to a royal palace; where he offered to serve, and was taken into employment.

The king's daughter had been carried off into a mountain by a Troll, and the king had no other child; therefore both he and the whole country were in great affliction; and the king had promised his daughter with half his kingdom to whomsoever would deliver her from the power of the Troll; but there was no one who could, although there were not wanting many to make the trial. When the youth had been a year or more in the king's service, he wished to go and see his parents; but on reaching home he found both of them dead, and that his brothers had divided all their property among themselves, so that there was nothing left for him. "Shall I alone inherit nothing after my parents?" asked the youth. Who could think that thou wast still alive, who hast been idly wandering all this time about the world?" replied the brothers: "But there are twelve mares grazing on the heath; if thou wilt have them for thy share thou canst take them." The youth was well pleased to hear this; so having thanked them he immediately went to the heath, where the mares were feeding. On approaching them he found that every mare had a sucking colt, and one of them had a large cream-coloured (borket) colt, which was so fat, and in such high condition, that it actually shone. Thou art a beautiful young colt,"

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