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190
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
(JUNE, 1887.
his great delight that the giant was fast asleep. stepped aside and let him pass by. He thus Seeing number of horses grazing near, he went on passing one giant after another till he caught one of them, and after killing it, dressed came to the last. When he had freed him also it nicely with some delicious spices which he like the rest, and feasted him, the giant ex. had with him, lighted a large fire, and roasted it pressed to him his gt...titude more warmly than whole. He then carried the savoury mess to the others had done, and asked him to let him the great giant, and placed it before him. The know how he could reward him. Upon this giant who by this time had finished his nap, the young man said :only growled with rage at finding himself unable "I want nothing of you, except that you lead to do justice to the substantial meal set before me to Rani Jhajbani's palace, for I am dying him ; for, as the young man found, he was to see her." firmly rooted to the ground owing to his "I regret," replied the giant, "that I cannot nails and hair having grown into the earth lead you there in person, but I give you this on account of his great age! The youth was flower. If you smell it the right way you overjoyed at this, for here was an opportunity will turn into a parrot, and if you smell it the of ingratiating himself into his good graces. 1 other way, you will be able to resume your own He had only to use his knife and his scissors shape. Pat it to your nose now and as soon as and set the unwieldy being free to gain his you are a parrot, fly straight on till you see the gratitude for ever; so he at once set to work roof of a palace. Perch upon that roof, for it and extricated the monster from his uncom. will be the roof of Rani Jhajhani's palace." fortable position. As soon as he was free, Thanking the giant warmly for his great however, he thus spoke to his deliverer :- kindness, the young man smelt the flower, and
* Young man, were it not for the service in the form of a parrot flew straight on, till he you have rendered me, I would have devoured reached the Rani's palace. As he sat perched you this instant for daring to come here, but upon the roof be perceived through a chink in
it is. I forgive you. Tell me now how I it that the giant king, whose daughter Rani can reward you for your kindness to me." Jhajhani was, was with her at the time. So he
“I require no other reward from you," said waited till he saw him take up a stick that lay the young man, “than to be allowed to pass by, touch his daughter gently with it, and by you, in order to reach the palace of Rani throwing her into a trance, walk out of the Jhajhant."
palace, leaving the fair Rani alone. The giant was wild with rage at what he When the giant was gone a safe distance, the thought the impudence of the young man in parrot flew into the apartment in which the wishing to reach the Rani's palace. He stamped lady lay, and smelling the flower the wrong his feet and raved, and would have devoured! way, resumed his original shape. He then took him there and then, had not the sense of op the stick that lay by, and touched the lady gratitude he was labouring under, triumphed gently with it, just as he had seen the giant over his desire to kill him; and so he said :- do, when to his great joy, she woke from her
"Young man, I not only forgive you your trance, and began to look at him with her impudence and let you go hence in safety, but beautiful eyes, -50 beautiful that for a time he to mark my sense of the debt I owe you for was quite dazzled by their brilliancy! The freeing me from my bonds, I give you this lady on her part also, seemed greatly astonished signet ring. On your way to Rani Jhajheni's to see the youth, having never set eyes on any palace, you will encounter six other giants like human being before. But she soon got over me, but they will all allow you to pass by her surprise and expressed herself greatly anmolested if you show them this ring." delighted at seeing him. Each found the other
The young man thanked him very much, so agreeable that they conversed on till dusk, and taking the signet ring from him once more when the lady suddenly recollected that it was set ont on his journey. He soon reached the time for the giant, her father, to return to the place where the second giant was lying and palace. She thereopon requested the youth to serving him as he had done the first, he showed throw her into a trance again by the aid of the him the ring, at sight of which the monster magio wand. Before complying with her re
