FOLK TALES OF ALL NATIONS

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 226, 24 September 1938, Page 30 (Supplement)

FOLK TALES OF ALL NATIONS

No had lliis lovely vision • y«•* ui-u lilm than rhe bade Yvon ta. r the castle with all haste. This

reiused to do, however, saying "::at the yiant had engaged him as servant, and he. for utie, was not ■i: ra id of him. All this tluie he had een study Big her fair face, and wondering how such youthful beauty could bloom behind the frownin» '•vails. While lie was thus lost in admirat .on the maiden asked him what task •he giant had given him to do. When von told her that he had to sweep out the stables, she turned quite pale, and aaid that it was not such an easy task as it appeared to be. Like so many other things in the giant's domain, the stable was enchanted, and when the dust was swept out the door it flew in through the window again. While Yvon waa wondering how he va* going to overcome this little difficulty the maiden told him that if he used "the handle of the broom the stable would empty itself.

Of course Yvon was very grateful at having, all- this explained, to. but what interested him more was what the youilg girl was doing in the giant's castle. Leading the way to a deep window seat he asked her to sit down, and. in her gentle voice she told him how she had come to be the giant's prisoner! When she had finished her story Yvon told her all about the good baron, his father, and the impulse that had led him to seek hi* fortune in lands So quickly and pleasantly did the time pass that neither of them realised that twilisht was already darkening the ?ky. When it became almost too dark for them to see one another's iacea, Finette (for that was the maiden's name) anxiously besonght \ von to hurry and sweep out the -tables before the giant returned.

Very reluctantly Yvoa turned to go, and a* he swept up the thick clouds "f dust that covered the stable door, I m afraid his thoughts were more on Finette than on his task. Suddenly, however, he remembered what she had told him about rasing the reverse end of the broom, and in no rime than it takes to tell there was not a speck to be seen Anywhere.

When he had finished he went outside to await his master's return, but the giant was in no good humour when he caught sight of him. He began to upbraid him for wasting his time, but Yvon told him that lie had finished the task set hiin. The giant could hardly believe his eyes when he saw that what the young adventurer had said was true, and with resdy coming guessed that he had somehow found his way into the castle, and become acquainted with Finette.

In a voice like thunder he accused Yvon of what he had done, but that young man pretended not to understand him. He had no intention of betraying one so young and lovely, and when the giant discovered this he became angrier than ever. "I'll show you that I am not to be trifled with," he roared, "just wait until

to-morrow and see if you can manage your next task as easily as you have managed this." Next morning, almost before Yvon had had time to shake the sleep from his eyes, he heard the giant's mighty voice calling to him, and though he greeted him cheerfully he waa met by an angry stare.

He bid Yvon go to the topmost height of a great mountain and catch for him his steed that was grazing there. Failure to carry out this task, he added, would mean that he must forfeit his life. Witli this terrible injunction he strode away as fast as his seven-league boote could carry him.

Strange to say, Yvon was more perturbed at not seeing Finette than he was at carrying out the giant's commands, but as he passed through the forbidden door he found that she was waiting there for him. Once again he told her what the giant had commanded him, and once again she

No. Vl:—Part II: FINCTTE OF BRITTANY

was ready ■with the solution. "Behind the stable door you will find a magic bridle," «he said. "Provided you carry this you liave nothing more to fear."

Just sm before, however, Yvon seemed in no hurry to carry out hia task, and instead spent the greater part of the afternoon in the company of Finette. Presently he bethought him of what he had to do, and to with a lingering farewell to the maiden he started to climb the mountain side.

The giant's horse was almost at terrifying a« its master, but it became as docile as a lamb when it sighted the magic bridle.

So strange a power did the reins possess that Yvon was able to mount the animal without any trouble, and was coon on his way home again. Within sight of the castle he led the horse in to the stable and once again took hifl place on the bench outside.

When the giant returned he found him whistling a merry tune and looking as if he had not got a oars in the world. "Aha!" thought the giant, "I have caught you this time." Aloud, he said, "Why is it you sit here while my noble steed is pawing the ground on the far mountain top?" When Yvon told him that he had fulfilled his second task as easily m he had carried out the first, hid master again suspected Finette, but Yvon strenuously denied this. After the giant had left him for the night he fell into a healthy sleep, and let it be said that all his dreams were of Finette.

Early next morning he w»e aroused by his terrible maeter, and told to fetch * sack of buried treasure from the mountain cavern, and this Yvon cheerfully agreed to do. When he saw that the giant really gone he hastened to meet Finette, for by thie time he was wondering what he could do to msko his wife.

"What shall I do?" he asked, "I haven't th© least idea where to find the cavern, or how to get tIM treasure when I get there." Finette was not lacking on this ■third occasion, but handed him a little hazel wand. "There i» an enormous rock half tvay up the mountain side," she said; "strike it three times with this rod and a hideous goblin will answer your siraimnns. \\ hen he a«ks you what you have come for tell him that it is for your master's treasure. He will then want to know how much you intend to take away, and your annwer must be not more than you can carrv."

"And what happens then?" inquired Yvon, not one whit abashed.

(To be continued.)