through a forest of oak-trees, and in it they perceived a third giant as tall as a barn, at work making all the oaks of the same height. If one was too tall, he drove it further into the earth with a blow of his fist, and if too short, he pulled it up to the proper level.
"Health to thee!" said Little Bear's-Son. "Thou art indeed a mighty man. What is thy name?"
"Health to thee!" responded the giant. "My name is Dubynia.[1] But my strength is as naught compared with that of a certain Ivashko Medvedko that I have heard tell of."
"I am that one," said Little Bear's-Son. "Wilt thou go with us and be our comrade?"
"That I will," answered the giant. "Whither doth your path lead?"
"Whither our eyes look," said Little Bear's-Son, and the third giant left his work in the oak-forest and went with them.
They traveled, all four together, for three days, when they came to a wilderness full of all kinds of game, and Little Bear's-Son said: "Of what profit is it for us to wander further through the white world? Let us build a house here and dwell in ease and comfort."
- ↑ Oak-man.
