d him
on?

At last he came to a river, but let nobody think for a moment that this
river was like other rivers? Instead of water, there flowed milk,
and the bottom was of precious stones and pearls, instead of sand
and pebbles. And it ran neither fast nor slow, but both fast and slow
together. And the river flowed round the castle, and on its banks slept
lions with iron teeth and claws; and beyond were gardens such as only
the Fairy of the Dawn can have, and on the flowers slept a fairy! All
this saw Petru from the other side.

But how was he to get over? To be sure there was a bridge, but, even if
it had not been guarded by sleeping lions, it was plainly not meant for
man to walk on. Who could tell what it was made of? It looked like soft
little woolly clouds!

So he stood thinking what was to be done, for get across he must.

After a while, he determined to take the risk, and strode back to the
sleeping giant. 'Wake up, my brave man!' he cried, giving him a shake.

The giant woke and stretched out his hand to pick up Petru, just as we
should catch a fly. But Petru played on his flute, and the giant fell
back again. Petru tried this three times, and when he was satisfied that
the giant was really in his power he took out a handkerchief, bound the
two little fingers of the giant together, drew his sword, and cried for
the fourth time, 'Wake up, my brave man.'

When the giant saw the trick which had been played on him he said to
Petru. 'Do you call this a fair fight? Fight according to rules, if you
really are a hero!'

'I will by-and-by, but first I want to ask you a question! Will you
swear that you will carry me over the river if I fight honourably with
you?' And the giant swore.

When his hands were freed, the giant flung himself upon Petru, hoping to
crush him by his weight. But he had met his match. It was not yesterday,
nor the day before, that Petru had fought his first battle, and he bore
himself bravely.

For three days and three nights the battle raged, and sometimes one had
the upper hand, and sometimes the other, till at length they both lay
struggling on the ground, but Petru was on top, with the point of his
sword at the giant's throat.

'Let me go! let me go!' shrieked he. 'I own that I am beaten!'

'Will you take me over the river?' asked Petru.

'I will,' gasped the giant.

'What shall I do to you if you break your word?'

'Kill me, any way you like! But let me live now.'

'Very well