care of you ." Hans then bade farewell to his father and his younger brothers and started on his journey .
He walked a long way until by and by he came to a great city , where the houses looked dingy with smoke and the rattle of the carts and wagons made an incessant roar. After a time he found some work in the shop of a blacksmith , and although the work was grimy and rather hard to do Hans used to like to see the sparks fly from the red hot iron every time he struck a blow with his heavy hammer . He was very proud when at last he could shape the hard iron into a fine horseshoe almost as well as the smith himself . Hans did not know it , but this very work was making his arms grow big and strong and his chest broad and full .
Every day Hans used to see a beautiful princess drive past the blacksmith's shop . She was the most beautiful princess in the world , and although her blue eyes and golden hair were admired by everyone , she was chiefly beloved because of her sweet smile . Hans used often to say to himself : " How I wish I could serve this lovely young princess ." last one day he went to the palace gate and asked the gatekeeper if there was not some work in the palace which he could do .
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HANS AND THE FOUR BIG GIANTS. 89
" What can you do ? " asked the gatekeeper .
66 I am willing to do any kind of work which the king may need to have done ," answered Hans .
Then the gatekeeper passed him on to the keeper of the king's palace .
" What can you do ? " again asked the keeper of the king's palace .
" I am willing to do any kind of work which the king may need to have done , replied Hans .
So the keeper of the palace told the king that there was a strong , tall young man without who wanted to serve him . " Bring him to me ," said the king . When Hans came into the presence of the mighty king the monarch looked at him very hard for a few moments and then said : " What can you do , young man ? " And again Hans replied : " I am willing to do anything that you may need to have done . I would like to serve the beautiful princess . "
" You would , would you ? " cried the king . " Now I will test you . In the bottom of the North Sea there lies a string of enchanted pearls . If you will get those pearls and bring them to me you shall serve my daughter, the
princess , and in time I may make you governor over one of my provinces ; who knows ? " And the king laughed to himself.
Hans was wild with delight and , turning, hastened out of the palace . The very next day he started on his journey to the North Sea . He walked and walked a long way until he was very tired . At length , just ahead of him , he saw a big giant rushing along in the strangest fashion .
" Good morning " said Hans , as he caught up with the giant . " What a very large giant you are ! "
Yes , replied the giant , looking down at Hans , " I have need to be both large and strong. Where are you going , young man ? "
" I am going , " answered Hans , " to the North Sea to try to get a string of enchanted pearls which lies at the bottom of the sea ."
" Ah ! " said the tall giant , " it will take you a long time to get there . Now if you could walk as fast as I can , it would be an easy matter . '
66
How fast can you walk ? " asked Hans .
" I can walk faster than a greyhound can run , " said the giant , " and when I run , the swift river cannot keep pace with me . "
" Can you , indeed ? " exclaimed Hans .