king's son, now himself a king,
was so happy that he forgot all about the giant. Seven years and a day
had gone by, when one morning, while standing on the ramparts, he beheld
the giant striding towards the castle. Then he remembered his promise,
and remembered, too, that he had told the queen nothing about it. Now he
must tell her, and perhaps she might help him in his trouble.

The queen listened in silence to his tale, and after he had finished,
she only said:

'Leave thou the matter between me and the giant,' and as she spoke, the
giant entered the hall and stood before them.

'Bring out your son,' cried he to the king, 'as you promised me seven
years and a day since.'

The king glanced at his wife, who nodded, so he answered:

'Let his mother first put him in order,' and the queen left the hall,
and took the cook's son and dressed him in the prince's clothes, and led
him up to the giant, who held his hand, and together they went out along
the road. They had not walked far when the giant stopped and stretched
out a stick to the boy.

'If your father had that stick, what would he do with it?' asked he.

'If my father had that stick, he would beat the dogs and cats that
steal the king's meat,' replied the boy.

'Thou art the cook's son!' cried the giant. 'Go home to thy mother;' and
turning his back he strode straight to the castle.

'If you seek to trick me this time, the highest stone will soon be the
lowest,' said he, and the king and queen trembled, but they could not
bear to give up their boy.

'The butler's son is the same age as ours,' whispered the queen; 'he
will not know the difference,' and she took the child and dressed him in
the prince's clothes, and the giant led him away along the road. Before
they had gone far he stopped, and held out a stick.

'If thy father had that rod, what would he do with it?' asked the giant.

'He would beat the dogs and cats that break the king's glasses,'
answered the boy.

'Thou art the son of the butler!' cried the giant. 'Go home to thy
mother;' and turning round he strode back angrily to the castle.

'Bring out thy son at once,' roared he, 'or the stone that is highest
will be lowest,' and this time the real prince was brought.

* * * * *

But though his parents wept bitterly and fancied the child was suffering
all kinds of dreadful things, the giant treated him like his own son,
though he never allowed him to see his daug