Page:Lange - The Blue Fairy Book.djvu/160

 ‘Have you been for the tax?’ said the giant.

‘Yes, that I have, master,’ said the Prince.

‘Where have you put it then?’ said the giant again.

‘The bag of gold is standing there on the bench,’ said the Prince.

‘I will see about that,’ said the giant, and went away to the bench, but the bag was standing there, and it was so full that gold and silver dropped out when the giant untied the string.

‘You have certainly been talking with my Master-maid!’ said the giant, ‘and if you have I will wring your neck.’

‘Master-maid?’ said the Prince; ‘yesterday my master talked about this Master-maid, and to-day he is talking about her again, and the first day of all it was talk of the same kind. I do wish I could see the thing myself,’ said he.

‘Yes, yes, wait till to-morrow,’ said the giant, ‘and then I myself will take you to her.’

‘Ah! master, I thank you—but you are only mocking me,’ said the King’s son.

Next day the giant took him to the Master-maid. ‘Now you shall kill him, and boil him in the great big cauldron you know of, and when you have got the broth ready give me a call,’ said the giant; then he lay down on the bench to sleep, and almost immediately began to snore so that it sounded like thunder among the hills.

So the Master-maid took a knife, and cut the Prince’s little fingers, and dropped three drops of blood upon a wooden stool; then she took all the old rags, and shoe-soles, and all the rubbish she could lay hands on, and put them in the cauldron; and then she filled a chest with gold dust, and a lump of salt, and a water-flask which was hanging by the door, and she also took with her a golden apple, and two gold chickens; and then she and the Prince went away with all the speed they could, and when they had gone a little way they came to the sea, and then they sailed, but where they got the ship from I have never been able to learn.

Now, when the giant had slept a good long time, he began to stretch himself on the bench on which he was lying. ‘Will it soon boil?’ said he.

‘It is just beginning,’ said the first drop of blood on the stool.

So the giant lay down to sleep again, and slept for a long, long time. Then he began to move about a little again. ‘Will it soon be ready now?’ said he, but he did not look up this time any more than he had done the first time, for he was still half asleep.

‘Half done!’ said the second drop of blood, and the giant