Tales of Giants from Brazil

to Co

n hands he built the house out of mud, and he made for it a thatched roof from the grass of the forest. For food they dep

in the great city which had been their home before they went to live in the forest. These were the tales he loved to hear best of all. Very often when his father went out into the forest

d from his hunting trip, "I am tired of living here in the

o it that she never mentions the city to you again. We left the city to save o

s lips. Nevertheless he hid away in his mind all that his mother had told him of their old life; and at night, when the fierce storms in the forest or

let us return to our home in the city. Let us not stay here alone in the forest any longer. I must live in my own life the tales yo

her own heart, was not longing for a return to the life of the city. Accordingly, they took

all the doors of the city, but no one responded. At last they reached the street where their old home had been. The lad was delighted to see what a big handsome

another. His mother saw one room after another with everything unchanged. She recognized one object after anot

of the city. They saw no one and heard no living sound. It was like a city of the dead. They grew hungry at length; an

aw that the barred door was wide open. There in the hall stood the most enormous giant she had ever se

my house?" roared the giant in such a

ly frightened. "Who are you and what are you doing in my house?"

, but on the contrary her bold answer pleased him exceedingly. He laug

as he could regain his voice. "Well, I'll tell you what we can do. I li

urprise sufficiently to find words. "My son is with me and I am expecting him a

st as I have destroyed all the inhabitants

s grown in the deep forest and is very strong, far stronger than the city dwellers. B

ting him any moment. Just lie down here and pretend that you are sick. When the boy comes in tell him that you have a terrible pain in your eyes. As you have lived long in the forest you will know that the best remedy for a pain in your eyes is the oil of the deadly cobra

barred the door. The lad's mother lay down with a cloth over her eyes, moaning in loud tones. "The giant little knows

s befallen you during my absence?"

iant had instructed. "The only thing which will cure me of

never in his life had he disregarded a request from his mother. He at once set out for the jungle; an

from which there hung, head downward, several live fowls which she was taking to market. It wa

is coming, my lad, when you will, in truth, need the cobra's oil," said the little old woman. "But that day is not today. Today hen's oil will serve your purpose just as

e hen's oil in its place to his mother. Because his mother had nothing at all the matter with her eyes, the hen's oil cure

uth your son is a brave lad. I did not dream that he would have the courage to

t love we bear each other

he giant. "Tomorrow you must complain of the pain in your back and send the

t had commanded. There was nothing else which she could do. The boy at once w

e oil of the porcupine with me, my son," said she when she had heard his story. "I will keep it for you un

en's oil which the boy brought, just as easily as if it had been the porcupine's oil. The gia

ement the giant had seized him and bound him securely with a great rope. "If you are really a strong boy you will brea

ak the great rope. It was no use. He was no

he rope she fell upon her knees before the giant an

y, little one. When you cut my son into five pieces do it with his father's sword which he has brought with him from the little hut in the forest where we used to live. Then bind his body upon the ba

met the little old woman who was really Nossa Senhora. She took the parts of the lad's body and anointed them with the por

d. The little old woman anointed his eyes with the cobra's oil. His sight was immediately restored. Then he

was asleep. He seized his father's sword and plunged it into the giant's body. The giant

was so heavy he could barely lift it, but mustering all his stre

elp, will guard a lad against all perils," said the boy's moth