Opening, part 4 · page 21 2101'In the land whence I have come there are many men with the strength of Ian,' answered he.102And he went outside and pulled at the chain, but he could not move it, and fell on to his knees.103At that he rose swiftly, and gathering up his strength, he seized the chain, and this time he shook it so that the link broke.104And the giant heard it on the hunting hill, and lifted his head, thinking--105'It sounds like the noise of Ian, the soldier's son,' said he; 'but as yet he is only sixteen years old.106Still, I had better look to it.'107And home he came.108'Are you Ian, the soldier's son?' he asked, as he entered the castle.109'No, of a surety,' answered the youth, who had no wish that they should know him.110'Then who are you in the leeward, or in the windward, or in the four brown boundaries of the sea, who are able to move my battle- chain?'111'That will be plain to you after wrestling with me as I wrestle with my mother.112And one time she got the better of me, and two times she did not.'113So they wrestled, and twisted and strove with each other till the giant forced Ian to his knee.114'You are the stronger,' said Ian; and the giant answered:115'All men know that!'116And they took hold of each other once more, and at last Ian threw the giant, and wished that the raven were there to help him.117No sooner had he wished his wish than the raven came.118'Put your hand under my right wing and you will find a knife sharp enough to take off his head,' said the raven.119And the knife was so sharp that it cut off the giant's head with a blow.120'Now go and tell the daughter of the king of Grianaig; but take heed lest you listen to her words, and promise to go no further, for she will seek to help you.121Instead, seek the middle daughter, and when you have found her, you shall give me a piece of tobacco for reward.'122'Well have you earned the half of all I have,' answered Ian.123But the raven shook his head.124'You know only what has passed, and nothing of what lies before.125If you would not fail, wash yourself in clean water, and take balsam from a vessel on top of the door, and rub it over your body, and to-morrow you will be as strong as many men, and I will lead you to the dwelling of the middle one.'126Ian did as the raven bade him, and in spite of the eldest daughter's entreaties, he set out to seek her next sister.127He found her where she was seated sewing, her very thimble wet from the tears which she had shed.128'What brought you here?' asked the second sister.129'Why may I not go where you can go?' answered he; 'and why are you weeping?'1 2← previousOpening, part 3next →Opening, part 5↑ back to The Orange Fairy BookThis page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg3027/4/page/2/