Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 1 1883.djvu/141

Rh them, if you will observe these two directions: first, do not draw sword, and next, kill no woman."

So Rájá Rasálu set out for Gangar. Now Gangar was the name also of the most mighty giant of all the seven, and the mountain which was named after him is full of enormous caverns, which were the homes of himself and of his comrades. In a few days the King arrived, and began to ascend the hill, but for a long time he searched for the giants in vain. At last he espied one of them bearing water towards the base of a rock, and he challenged him, and slew him. But his howling had been so great that the other giants were roused and came rushing out from their dens. And when they found that King Rasálu had come against them they were afraid, but one of them said: "Pierce with your arrow seven plates of iron, and we shall then know whether or not you are worthy to fight with us." So they set up seven plates of iron, and the King pierced them through and through. On perceiving this the six giants filled with dismay fled from before him, but the King pursued them bow in hand, and with the exception of one only he slew them all with his invincible arrows. The one surviving giant was a woman, and the King discovering this endeavoured to overtake and capture her, crying out to her, "Woman, I am King Rasálu. Stand, for you cannot escape me." But the giantess answered him: "You may indeed capture me, but take notice, O King, in this very country which you have invaded your head shall be smitten off from your body." With that she disappeared within a mighty cavern, just as Rasálu urging his horse made a leap over a vast chasm to come up with her. Then the King dismounted, but the giantess had disappeared many a mile within the mountain. So he engraved his likeness on the face of the rock inside the entrance of the cave, and rolled a great stone over the mouth of it, and shut her in, and there she remains to this day. Sometimes she endeavours to escape, but when she catches sight of King Rasálu's picture, she rushes back dismayed and baffled, and her roaring fills the villages round with dread.