The Fairy Ring

use as large as a church, with windows fifty feet in height. He walked a whole day before reaching it, and at la

d like the roar of a bull. At the same instant the door opened, and the little Br

e giant, taking up Yvon between his thumb and finger, a

my fortune," answered Yvon, looking a

ork directly. This is the time for leading my sheep to the pasture; you may clean the stable while I am gone. I shall give you nothing else to do," added h

I have plenty of time to sweep the stable. What shall I do meanwhile to amuse myself? Shall I lo

which a great pot was hanging, suspended from a hook. T

ystery here." He cut off a lock of his hair, dipped i

kind of soup; anybody that swallows

d from a hook, and boiling without fire. Yvon dipped a lo

in the Kerver kitchen," thought he

nd boiling without fire. Yvon dipped a lock of hair into it, and took it out all co

gets worse and worse'; here it is just the contrary, everything gets bett

ecious stones. This was a young woman of such marvelous

she, in a trembling voice

red Yvon; "the giant took me i

the young girl. "May Hea

master; the work is not hard. The st

every forkful of dung that you throw out of the door, ten will come in at the window. But I will tell

iant had made his slave. Friendship soon springs up between companions in misfortune. Before the end of the day, Finette (for that was the lady's n

pproaching when Finette sent away her new friend, advis

a second there was so much dung in the stable that the poor boy knew not which way to turn. He did as Finette had bid him; he turned t

f the house. As soon as he saw the giant coming, he lolled back in

e stable?" asked the

er," answered Yvon, withou

giant. He entered the stable grumbling, fou

cried he; "this trick did

and shutting his eyes. "Is it one of the animals th

ed the giant; "you will see her

e of the day in search of his horse, which was turned out to graze on the mountain. "After that," said he, bursting into a laugh, "you can rest

th. "I understand your tricks; but, in spite of your threats, I shall go into the house, and

" cried he; "I have nothing to do all day

tte; "how will you set

were a difficult thing to ride a horse! I fa

d the stable door, and, when the animal rushes toward you breathing fire and smoke from his nostrils, force it st

hey always came back to the point that they were promised to each other, and that they must escape from the giant. Time passes quickly in this kind of talk. The evenin

him at full gallop, breathing fire and smoke from his nostrils. Yvon firmly awaited the huge animal, and, the moment he opened his enormous jaws, thrust

of the house. As soon as he saw the giant coming, he lolled back in

k the horse?" asked t

"He is a fine animal, and does you credit. He is gentle, well tr

giant. He entered the stable grumbling, fou

said he; "this trick did n

tting his eyes, "it is the same story over again. What

ned the giant; "you will see he

s sheep together to lead them to the pastur

ent. After that," continued he, bursting into a laugh, "y

the less hard. I will go and see my Finette, as the giant says;

e task of the day, "Well," said she,

the bottomless pit, and, even if I knew the way there,

pit. Take this stick, knock three times on the stone, and a demon will come out all streaming w

to talk with her. He would have been there till this time if the young girl had not se

k of granite. He struck it three times with the stick, when lo!

you want?

e giant's rent," an

ch do y

re than I can carry,

eturned the man in flames. "Enter this

monds, carbuncles, and emeralds. They were as numerous as the sands on the seashore. Th

oor of the house. As soon as he saw the giant coming, he lolled back i

ess pit to collect my rent?"

ng the trouble to stir. "The sack is there

e untied the strings of the sack, which was so full

he cried; "this trick did

mouth and shutting his eyes. "It is the old story, m

th fury, "wait till to-morrow, an

s very good of you; but I see from yo