` There are other things easier than that , ' said she , ` for the Giant that was buried will be waiting for you , and will attack you on the way , as he has turned himself into a big whale . I shall lend you a boat , however , and if you meet the whale and think your lives are in danger , then you can name me by name . ' They thanked her greatly for her help and advice , and set out from the island , but on the way they saw a huge fish coming towards them , with great splashing and dashing of waves . They were sure of what it was , and thought they had as good reason as ever they would have to call on the Witch , and so they did . The next minute they saw coming after them another huge whale , followed by fifteen smaller ones . All of these swam past the boat and went on to meet the whale . There was a fierce battle then , and the sea became so stormy that it was not very easy to keep the boat from being filled by the waves . After this fight had gone on for some time , they saw that the sea was dyed with blood ; the big whale and the fifteen smaller ones disappeared , and they got to land safe and sound . Now the story goes back to the King 's hall , where strange things had happened in the meantime . The Queen and her daughter had disappeared , but a rat and a mouse were always fighting with each other there . Ever so many people had tried to drive them away , but no one could manage it . Thus some time went on , while the King was almost beside himself with sorrow and care for the loss of his Queen , and because these monsters destroyed all mirth in the hall . One evening , however , while they all sat dull and down-hearted , in came Hermod with a sword by his side , and saluted the King , who received him with the greatest joy , as if he had come back from the dead . Before Hermod sat down , however , he went to where the rat and the mouse were fighting , and cut them in two with his sword . All were astonished then by seeing two witches lying dead on the floor of the hall . Hermod now told the whole story to the King , who was very glad to be rid of such vile creatures . Next he asked for the hand of Hadvor , which the King readily gave him , and being now an old man , gave the kingdom to him as well ; and so Hermod became King . Olof married a good-looking nobleman , and that is the end of the story . THE STEADFAST TIN-SOLDIER There were once upon a time five-and twenty tin-soldiers -- all brothers , as they were made out of the same old tin spoon . Their uniform was red and blue , and they shouldered their guns and looked straight in front of them .
The first words that they heard in this world , when the lid of the box in which they lay was taken off , were : ` Hurrah , XXXXX ! '
Hadvor Hermod King Olof Queen TIN-SOLDIER attack evening tin-soldiers whale