Mohave County miner., 1889-12-21

Tho next morning he WINS early
aroused by the giant whose heavy
footsteps sounded through the house
like the thuds OF a steam hammer In q
rolling mill.
II have an important piece Of work
To do for you to-day, my boy" said
Hibornus when he met Handy few
minutes later. ''and shall see whether
I can trust and conGde in you. Mind
you. II you are as good and faithful a
I think you are. ! will make you O
rich and powerful man. but II YOU play
me false and betray me"-and as the
giant said that his voice became terri
ble--"you will be sorry for 1t the rest
OF your days"
"Tell me what you want me to do
quietly replied Handy.
We'll, listen. am in love with Err
meldine. the daughter OF E1neI. the
giant Of Ernelcliff. This giant Is q
very mighty and proud man. He is
very rich, and the possessions OF his
vast kingdom nobody can count or
carry. But he and are enemies. be-
cause he has refused me tho hand oi
his daughter several times, although
he knows that / love her and that she
loves me so much that she would not
marry anyone else. Now ] want you
TO go to Ermelclin Castle and see Miss
Ermeldine. / will give you this ring.
and when you show that TO her she
will have every confidence in you. be-
cause she knows you come from me.
Tell her then that will meet her with
my white charger in three days from
the time you are there. at the foot OF
Ermelcliff. II she asks you why l
want TO meet her, tell her / want her
TO run away with me. Now 60 and do
your errand we'll"
Handy went away. He did not like
the task before him, because he did
not know exactly how he could fulfill
it. and he was afraid he would never
get back alive. True, the giant had
given him asword. which he said would
make him invincible to any foe. but
somehow or other he did not think he
would do much good with it.
On the third day after he left Hibor-
nus castle he met with o whole army
Of dwarfs These little men numbered
by the thousands, and they covered the
entire country for miles around.
Handy had often heard Of dwarfs and
he did not like TO be among them. but
he felt his sword at his side, and that
made him courageous.
"Bah!' he said to himself. II have
got along with the giant and l will not
be afraid of these little mites"
Thus he encouraged himself. and he
marched bravely into the crowd. Not
very long afterward the little men
came up to him and asked him where
he was going.
II am going to Ermelclifr Castle. I"
he replied.
"Well, them" said one OF the dwarfs,
who. by his dress. looked like the king
OF the Lilliputian army. will you take
a message from US to Ermel, the
giant?"
"Yes; what Is the message?"
"Tell Ermel that we have come TO
fight him until he restores to us tho
treasures Of gold he stole from u.s."
Il will. replied Handy. and he went
away. When he got to tho castle
Ermel was already awaiting him. be-
cause he had noticed him coming in
the distance. Handy delivered his
message, and the giant withdrew to
consult with his soldiers, and other
giants While Ermel was away.
Handy quickly ran TO Ermeldine and
told her what Hibornus had said to
him. The giants daughter was almost
as tall as her father, but she was never
theless very beautiful. She told
Handy to return to her lover and assure
him that she would be ready to follow
him at any time.
By this time Ermel came back.
go and tell those little fellows
down in the valley that am coming
down TO them and / will kill every one
OF them who does not run away"
Handy departed and when he in
formed the dwarfs OF the giants
answer they got mad and stamped the
ground with their little feet as angrily
as possible.
1--WE will show him! We will show
himr' they shouted.
Look here" said Handy. whom a
sudden thought had struck just then.
"You make me your general and I will
lead you TO victory. have sword
here that slays anyone who comes
within my reach and ] can help you
very much"
"All right" replied the dwarfs.
Listen to me then, continued
Handy. These giants are SO tall that
they cannot reach down to the ground
very well. Now. all you have TO do is
TO lie fat on the ground and as the
giants come along you must all the
time shoot your arrows at their legs
until every one Of them falls down.
When that Is done shall kill them."
The little men thought that was q
good idea, and they followed Handy's
Instructions 10 the letter. Soon the
battle commenced, and as Handy had
prophesied the giants could not touch
the dwarfs. So It happened that Ermel
and his whole army were annihilatcd.