for when he reached home he found his servants tied together back
to back with cloths bound round their mouths, so that they could
not speak. He hastened to set them free, and he asked who had
treated them in so evil a manner.

'No sooner had you gone than a great giant came, and dealt with
us as you see, and carried off your wife and your two horses,'
said the men.

'Then my eyes will not close nor will my head lay itself down
till I fetch my wife and horses home again,' answered he, and he
stopped and noted the tracks of the horses on the grass, and
followed after them till he arrived at the wood, when the
darkness fell.

'I will sleep here,' he said to himself, 'but first I will make a
fire,' And he gathered together some twigs that were lying about,
and then took two dry sticks and rubbed them together till the
fire came, and he sat by it.

The twigs cracked and the flame blazed up, and a slim yellow dog
pushed through the bushes and laid his head on the king's knee,
and the king stroked his head.

'Wuf, wuf,' said the dog. 'Sore was the plight of thy wife and
thy horses when the giant drove them last night through the
forest.'

'That is why I have come,' answered the king; and suddenly his
heart seemed to fail him and he felt that he could not go on.