Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 1 1883.djvu/327

 Rh breathed inside (drew his breath in) again, he was dragging John to him again, when John threw the third part of the cake into his mouth. As soon as he tasted his sister's breast-milk he welcomed him more warmly than even his brother had done, and promised to do everything that lay in his power to find out Grey Norris.

That night was spent in rejoicing and drinking, and in the morning he looked at his books but couldn't find out the old wizard. "Now," says he unto the king's son, "go to my brother and I am sure he will find out what you're looking for, but be very careful as he is a hundred years older than me." So John set off hopping and skipping behind his reel, and after a while got to the house of the giant. After some parley with the guards at the gates he got inside, and his pluckiness almost failed him when he was sucked by the breath of the giant fair into his mouth. But he was soon spit out again, and as the giant was grabbing hold of him he managed to throw what was left of the cake into his mouth. As soon as the giant tasted his sister's breast-milk he made a great fuss with John, and said he was bound to find Grey Norris out. They drank and feasted all that night and in the morning the giant looked over his books. When he told his guest that he could not find Grey Norris out, he was very downcast. "Never mind, come out into the valley with me," said the giant, John went out with him, and the giant sounded his trumpet fiercely. He then told John to look and see if anything was coming; which he did, and answered "No." The giant then sounded his trumpet again, so that it made the trees and plants for miles around to shake. John again answered "No" to the question if anything was coming. The third time the trumpet was sounded it made the earth quiver, and John said he saw something black in the sky about as big as a man's hand, and that it was getting bigger by degrees. Presently up came a big, big eagle with its feathers all rumpled. "Where were you when I blew my trumpet the first time?" asked the giant sternly." I was freeing myself from the chains with which I was chained by old Grey Norris," said the eagle. "And where were you the second time?" "I was making my way across the burning mountains; see! my feathers are all scorched," said the eagle. "And the third time?" said the giant. "I was flying with all speed towards you," replied