aid to him, "not far from here is a town in which reigns
an Emperor. His city has fed us for several years."

As they drew near to the city they pulled up two fir-trees by the
roots and carried them along. When they reached the town they set one
of the trees against the wall and called to the Prince, "Come on,
climb up the wall here, and we will hand you the second tree. Seize it
by the point and let it down on the other side, but keep hold of the
top so that we may climb down by the trunk."

The Prince accordingly scrambled up, but on receiving the second tree
he called out, "I don't know where to stand it; I am not familiar with
the place and dare not shove it over. Do one of you come up and show
me, and then I will make it all right."

One of the Giants climbed up to him, seized the fir-tree by the point,
and let it down on the other side of the wall. As he stood thus bent
over, the Prince drew his sword and struck off his head, and the dead
Giant tumbled off the wall into the city.

Then the Prince cried to the others, "All right! Come on now, one at a
time, that I may help you along in the same way."

One after another unsuspiciously climbed up, only to meet death at the
hand of the Prince. When he had made an end of all the nine he let
himself down by the fir-tree into the city, which he explored in every
direction. No sound of human voice reached his ear. All was a drear,
horrible desolation. "Has the whole population been robbed and
murdered by the Giants?" he thought to himself.

For a long time he wandered about the desolate city, until he came to
a very high tower, from one window of which shone out the light of a
taper. He threw open the door, rushed up the tower stair, and hastened
straight to that room.

On the threshold he stood still in amazement. The room was richly hung
and decorated with gold, silk, and velvet, and not a soul within
except a maiden who lay upon a couch, out-stretched in deep slumber.
The Prince was rooted to the spot at the sight of the maiden, for she
was wonderfully beautiful. But at that moment he became aware of a
great serpent which, sliding along the wall, stretched out its head
directly over the head of the maiden, coiling itself up in readiness
to spring and strike her upon the brow, between the eyes.

Then the Prince sprang quickly with his pocket-knife, which in a
trice he had drawn from his pocket, and pinned the serpent's head to
the wall. Then saying these words: