wide world, I suppose. I am just on my way to try my luck. Do you feel inclined to go with me?’
The Giant looked scornfully at the Tailor, and said, ‘You jackanapes! you miserable ragamuffin!’
‘That may be,’ said the Tailor, unbuttoning his coat and showing the Giant his belt. ‘You may just read what kind of fellow I am.’
The Giant read, ‘Seven at one blow,’ and thought that it was people the Tailor had slain; so it gave him a certain amount of respect for the little fellow. Still, he thought he would try him; so he picked up a stone and squeezed it till the water dropped out of it.
‘Do that,’ he said, ‘if you have the strength.’
‘No more than that!’ said the Tailor; ‘why, it’s a mere joke to me.’
He put his hand into his pocket, and pulling out the bit of soft cheese, he squeezed it till the moisture ran out.
‘I guess that will equal you,’ said he.
The Giant did not know what to say, and could not have believed it of the little man.
Then the Giant picked up a stone, and threw it up so high that one could scarcely follow it with the eye.
‘Now, then, you sample of a mannikin, do that after me.’
‘Well thrown!’ said the Tailor, ‘but the stone fell to the ground again. Now I will throw one for you which will never come back again.’
So saying, he put his hand into his pocket, took out the bird, and threw it into the air. The bird, rejoiced at its freedom, soared into the air, and was never seen again.
‘What do you think of that, Comrade?’ asked the Tailor.
‘You can certainly throw; but now we will see if you are in a condition to carry anything,’ said the Giant.
He led the Tailor to a mighty oak which had been felled, and which lay upon the ground.
‘If you are strong enough, help me out of the wood with this tree,’ he said.
