saw him.

"I am glad thou art come," said he; "it is now a long time since I have
had anything to eat; I shall make a good supper of thee."

"That may be," said the man, "but I shall not relish it; besides, if
thou desirest to eat, I have somewhat here that may satisfy thee."

"If that is true," answered the giant, "thou mayest make thy mind easy;
it was only for want of something better that I wished to devour thee."

Then they went in and placed themselves at the table, and the man
brought out bread, meat, and wine in plenty.

"This pleases me well," said the giant, and he ate to his heart's
content. After a while the man asked him if he could tell him where the
golden castle of Stromberg was.

"I will look on my land-chart," said the giant, "for on it all towns and
villages and houses are marked."

So he fetched the land-chart which was in his room, and sought for the
castle, but it was not to be found.

"Never mind," said he, "I have up-stairs in the cupboard much bigger
maps than this; we will have a look at them." And so they did, but in
vain.

And now the man wanted to pursue his journey, but the giant begged him
to stay a few days longer, until his brother, who had gone to get in a
store of provisions, should return. When the brother came, they asked
him about the golden castle of Stromberg.

"When I have had time to eat a meal and be satisfied, I will look at the
map."

That being done, he went into his room with them, and they looked at his
maps, but could find nothing: then he fetched other old maps, and they
never left off searching until they found the golden castle of
Stromberg, but it was many thousand miles away.

"How shall I ever get there?" said the man.

"I have a couple of hours to spare," said the giant, "and I will set you
on your way, but I shall have to come back and look after the child that
we have in the house with us."

Then the giant bore the man until within about a hundred hours' journey
from the castle, and saying,

"You can manage the rest of the way by yourself," he departed; and the
man went on day and night, until at last he came to the golden castle of
Stromberg. It stood on a mountain of glass, and he could see the
enchanted Princess driving round it, and then passing inside the gates.
He was rejoiced when he saw her, and began at once to climb the mountain
to get to her; but it was so slippery, as fast as he went he fell back
again. And when he saw this he felt