blow on the forehead that he fell to the ground. Then, before he
could rise to his feet again, Rosald drew out his sword and cut
off his head.

'It was not so difficult after all, you see,' he said, turning to
Geirald. And placing the giant's head in a leathern wallet which
was slung over his back, they began their journey to the castle.

As they drew near the gates, Rosald took the head from the wallet
and handed it to Geirald, whom he followed into the king's
presence.

'The giant will trouble you no more,' said Geirald, holding out
the head. And the king fell on his neck and kissed him, and
cried joyfully that he was the 'bravest knight in all the world,
and that a feast should be made for him and Rosald, and that the
great deed should be proclaimed throughout the kingdom.' And
Geirald's heart swelled with pride, and he almost forgot that it
was Rosald and not he, who had slain the giant.

By-and-by a whisper went round that a beautiful lady who lived in
the castle would be present at the feast, with twenty-four lovely
maidens, her attendants. The lady was the queen of her own
country, but as her father and mother had died when she was a
little girl, she had been left in the care of this king who was
her uncle.

She was now old enough to govern her own kingdom, but her
subjects did not like being ruled by a woman, and said that she
must find a husband to help her in managing her affairs. Prince