The Red Romance Book, page 259 by Various Authors
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t, or you will lose your spurs in your unseemly haste.'
'Fair youth,' replied the knight, 'do not, I pray you, waste the moments in idle talk; for the sultan and the princess have but now been attacked by an army of giants, and are being borne captive to some unknown land.' But before his tale was ended the youth was riding fast down the path along which the knight had come.
* * * * *
He was just in time: the tallest and strongest giant had laid hold of the sultan, bound and helpless as he was, and was carrying him off to a huge coal-black horse that was picketed to a tree close by. A blow on his helmet forced him to drop his burden, and he turned rapidly on his assailant.
'Bah! a boy!' he cried disdainfully; but the 'boy' struck him another swinging stroke, which almost cleft his shield. Then the giant drew out his great double-edged battle-axe, but the champion sprang aside, and the axe crashed harmlessly on a rock, while a well-aimed throw from the javelin pierced the joints of the giant's harness, and he fell heavily to the ground.
'It is an earthquake,' whispered the people of Babylon, as the houses shook and the swords rattled.
After this the giant's followers, who, big though they were, had no mind to face such a fighter, fled into the forest, and were seen no more.
The first thing to be done was of course to cut the cords which had been carefully wound round the arms and legs of the prisoners, who, seizing the champion's hands, shed tears and kisses over them. As to the sultan, he was well-nigh speechless from gratitude, but when he was able to speak he begged the youth to ask for some boon that he could grant, even if it were the half of his kingdom.
'That I will tell you to-morrow,' said he.
By this time the evening had come, and the chariots and the horses were made ready, and the company returned to the palace in Babylon, though neither the princess nor her ladies felt very safe till they were within the gates of the city.
Early nex