. 'Each o' them fell
to without leave, and only gave me the rough words when I told them they
were making more free than welcome. Well, I don't think they feel much
hunger now. There they are, good marble instead of flesh and blood,'
says he, pointing to two statues, one in one corner, and the other in
the other corner of the room. The prince was frightened, but he was
afraid to say anything, and Seven Inches made him sit down to dinner
between himself and his bride; and he'd be as happy as the day is long,
only for the sight of the stone men in the corner. Well, that day went
by, and when the next came, says Seven Inches to him, 'Now, you'll have
to set out that way,' pointing to the sun, 'and you'll find the second
princess in a giant's castle this evening, when you'll be tired and
hungry, and the eldest princess to-morrow evening; and you may as well
bring them here with you. You need not ask leave of their masters; and
perhaps if they ever get home, they'll look on poor people as if they
were flesh and blood like themselves.'

Away went the prince, and bedad! it's tired and hungry he was when he
reached the first castle, at sunset. Oh, wasn't the second princess glad
to see him! And what a good supper she gave him. But she heard the giant
at the gate, and she hid the prince in a closet. Well, when he came in,
he snuffed, an' he snuffed, and says he, 'By the life, I smell fresh
meat.' 'Oh,' says the princess, 'it's only the calf I got killed
to-day.' 'Ay, ay,' says he, 'is supper ready?' 'It is,' says she; and
before he rose from the table he ate three-quarters of a calf, and a
flask of wine. 'I think,' says he, when all was done, 'I smell fresh
meat still.' 'It's sleepy you are,' says she; 'go to bed.' 'When will
you marry me?' says the giant. 'You're putting me off too long.' 'St.
Tibb's Eve,' says she. 'I wish I knew how far off that is,' says he; and
he fell asleep, with his head in the dish.

Next day, he went out after breakfast, and she sent the prince to the
castle where the eldest sister was. The same thing happened there; but
when the giant was snoring, the princess wakened up the prince, and they
saddled two steeds in the stables and rode into the field on them. But
the horses' heels struck the stones outside the gate, and up got the
giant and strode after them. He roared and he shouted, and the more he
shouted, the faster ran the horses, and just as the day was breaking he
was only twenty perches behind.